Scientific Program Manager

Location

San Francisco office

Employment Type

Full time

Department

Science

About Chai Discovery

Chai Discovery is re-architecting drug discovery by building frontier AI foundation models to design molecules, and turning them into products that can transform how medicines are made.

The Chai founding team brought together leading researchers in this space and top operators in silicon valley. Our founders led seminal accomplishments at top AI-for-biology programs and labs, co-invented protein language modelling, built state-of-the-art folding algorithms, and sold AI adopted by top-10 pharma companies. We are backed by top-tier investors, including OpenAI, Thrive Capital, Dimension, Conviction, Lachy Groom, Amplify, and many more.

About the role

We are looking for a scientist-turned-program manager to lead our rapidly expanding program of lab experiments. Experimental data is key to testing research hypotheses and training frontier AI models for protein design -- you will set and implement the vision for how we scale and optimize our lab-in-the-loop data engine.

You will play a critical role in developing traditional and next-generation biologics at Chai, spanning monoclonals, bispecifics, TCEs, engineered cytokines, multifunctionals, and ADC/DAC formats. Help us plan and execute a broad array of design constructs, expression and purification campaigns, and fit-for-purpose assays that read out affinity, specificity, and developability.

This is a chance to push the boundaries of drug discovery by building some of the most advanced AI drug design models ever built. Immerse yourself in the core technologies and methods that represent the future of biotech.

About you

Our ideal candidate has a strong biologics and therapeutics background. You operate with urgency and are an outstanding scientific communicator. You have experience working with CROs (or within them) and are an adept project manager.

You have a deep desire to push the limits of what’s possible in therapeutic design and a restless drive to solve real-world problems and iterate quickly. Exposure to startups or other intense environments is essential.

Scientific Background

• PhD or equivalent work experience in Biological Sciences, Protein Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related field

• Experience with design and characterization in antibody-based biologics, including advanced modalities (e.g., bispecifics, TCEs, ADCs)

• Able to expertly inspect data, draw sound conclusions, and summarize key findings

• Understand molecular-biology workflows for cloning, transient/stable expression, purification, and quality control

• Familiar with binding and developability assays, SPR/BLI, ELISA, flow cytometry, etc.

• Literate with computational biology tools like GraphPad Prism, Python, and R

Execution & Collaboration:

• Proven record of designing experimental plans and managing CRO relationships from SOW through data review

• Able to juggle multiple projects, adapt priorities quickly, and communicate results to colleagues in a tight feedback loop

• Excellent at communicating with internal & external audiences, from research associates to executives

Mindset

• Organized and scrappy

• Detail-oriented and fast-moving

• Flexible

• Proactive

• Ambitious

We offer

• Frontier technology: we’re developing the next frontier of AI-driven drug discovery that will fundamentally change how new therapeutics are created.

• World-class team: opportunity to work with world-renowned leaders in the AI x biology and technology ecosystem who have created some of the most impactful advancements.

• Highly competitive compensation: we offer highly competitive salary, equity package, and healthcare and wellness benefits.

• Velocity and ownership: we move incredibly fast, which means continuous learning and career growth opportunities are a guarantee. Every team member owns a significant slice of the roadmap.

• Strong team culture: Collaborative and supportive startup culture in a small and high-energy team who are guided by our mission to increase the efficiency of creating new medicines and positively impact millions of lives.