Head of AI-Driven Protein Engineering
Location: San Francisco, CA
HireMinds is seeking your expertise as a Head of AI-Driven Protein Engineering to help lead our client’s efforts in using next-generation computational tools to design and optimize biologics. You’ll bring experience in design and library constructions with molecules including antibodies, enzymes, and novel scaffolds—with Biotech or Pharmaceutical company experience. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on scientific leader who thrives at the intersection of experimental protein science and cutting-edge AI.
You’ll drive therapeutic protein design campaigns, translating high-level discovery strategies into well-executed experiments. As both a scientific strategist and a doer, you’ll lead a growing team of protein engineers and computational biologists while partnering closely with AI researchers and wet-lab scientists to validate and iterate designs.
This is a high-impact leadership role with the opportunity to shape the direction of the companies R&D efforts and help define what’s possible with AI in biologics discovery.
You’ll Be Responsible For:
- Lead protein and antibody design campaigns for both internal proof-of-concept studies and partner-driven programs
- Collaborate with ML researchers and wet-lab teams to iterate on protein design workflows and model integration
- Design and execute experiments that validate AI-generated protein sequences based on biochemical, structural, and functional criteria
- Interpret data from expression, binding, stability, and activity assays to refine model predictions and design criteria
- Build and lead a high-performing team of computational and experimental protein engineers
- Work cross-functionally with business development and leadership to shape partnerships and expand capabilities
- Improve internal infrastructure, including design tools, data pipelines, and lab workflows
- Stay on the frontier of protein engineering and AI advancements, applying them to solve real-world challenges in drug discovery
You’ll Bring Expertise:
- PhD or equivalent industry experience in protein science, antibody engineering, biochemistry, computational biology, or related fields
- A hands-on leadership in protein or antibody engineering, with a strong foundation in biochemistry, structural biology, or molecular biology
- Experience in rational design and/or directed evolution of biologics, with a track record of guiding experimental campaigns from design through validation
- Familiarity with or highly motivated to work alongside machine learning tools such as AlphaFold, RFdiffusion, or ProteinMPNN—even if you don’t build the models yourself
- A collaborative problem-solver who thrives in a multidisciplinary environment and can bridge the gap between computational and experimental teams
- Comfortable in an early-stage setting, with the ability to build processes, mentor talent, and influence culture
- Driven by impact—whether improving therapeutic profiles, solving bottlenecks in discovery, or helping bring novel medicines to patients
Why Join You’ll work alongside pioneers in both AI and protein science—collaborating across disciplines to create programmable, high-performance biologics. We offer a competitive compensation package, a mission-driven environment, and the opportunity to help define the next frontier in therapeutic discovery.