Principal Scientist, Target Discovery & Portfolio Strategy

The role

You will identify and prioritize new therapeutic targets and disease areas for Xaira's portfolio. The work combines human genetics, multi-omics data, published research and clinical findings to build recommendations.

What you will do

• Identify promising disease areas and assess unmet patient needs and disease mechanisms.
• Find and prioritize targets using human genetics, functional genomics, multi-omics and patient data.
• Assess where Xaira's platforms could offer a therapeutic advantage, with molecular design and screening teams.
• Evaluate causality, direction of target modulation, safety risks and knowledge gaps.
• Write concise target assessments covering rationale, patient selection, competition, differentiation and risks.
• Track publications, clinical results and the competitive landscape.
• Use AI tools to analyze multi-modal data.
• Lead discovery programs or platform initiatives.

Required qualifications

• PhD in immunology or a related field.
• 6+ years of industry experience in drug discovery, target discovery, preclinical or translational drug development.
• Experience using human genetics, multi-omics and human data alongside cell biology, disease biology and clinical findings.
• Strong scientific judgment to tell an interesting association from a credible therapeutic opportunity.
• Clear communication and the ability to guide decisions across disciplines.
• Curiosity, independence and willingness to challenge assumptions and revise recommendations.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Open, flexible and friendly work environment.
• Platform to develop long-term career.
• Equity and bonus.
• Summary of Benefits available to all applicants.

Before you apply

• Xaira does not accept agency resumes.

About the company

Xaira Therapeutics is an AI-focused biotech startup using generative AI to design protein and antibody therapeutics and foundation models for biology and disease. It is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and London.