Senior Scientist, High Throughput Biology (Contract)

The role

You will lead the design and execution of experiments for drug discovery, including high-throughput screening platforms and functional genomics. You will also mentor junior scientists and work with drug discovery, computational biology and AI protein design teams.

What you will do

• Lead design, implementation, and optimization of biochemical, molecular, and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening
• Scale high-throughput screening strategies for binder discovery in mammalian systems
• Evaluate and pilot emerging technologies and make adoption recommendations
• Develop and optimize automated workflows with focus on data quality and reproducibility
• Partner with drug discovery, computational biology, and AI protein design teams on screening data
• Independently manage multiple projects and deliver high-quality data on time
• Maintain accurate records of experiments and protocols and contribute to scientific presentations
• Mentor junior scientists
• Stay current with relevant literature and emerging technologies

Required qualifications

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Functional Genomics, or a related field
• 4+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience (candidates with fewer years are encouraged to apply, with title adjusted accordingly)
• Proficiency with molecular biology techniques, complex library construction, flow cytometry, and cell line engineering
• Experience with pooled screening and NGS-based readouts, including library preparation and sequencing QC
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex experimental issues independently and guide others
• Strong data analysis skills with visualization and statistical software (e.g., GraphPad Prism, R, Python)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Collaborative team player able to work across interdisciplinary teams
• Track record of scientific contributions such as publications, patents, or internal technology development

Nice to have

• Experience with high-throughput antibody display technologies (yeast, phage, or mammalian display)
• Familiarity with single-cell genomics workflows (e.g., scRNA-seq, barcoded or multiplexed assays)

Before you apply

• Recruitment agencies: Xaira does not accept agency resumes and is not responsible for fees on unsolicited resumes

About the company

Xaira Therapeutics is a biotech startup using AI to transform drug discovery, including generative AI models for protein and antibody therapeutics and foundation models for biology and disease. It is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.