Senior Scientist, Protein Science & Assay Development

Our Mission

Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.

For more information, see our website at altoslabs.com.

Our Value

Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission.

Diversity at Altos

We believe that diverse perspectives are foundational to scientific innovation and inquiry. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment.

What You Will Contribute To Altos

We are seeking an experienced, self-motivated, and intellectually curious Sr. Scientist with deep expertise in protein science to join our In Vitro Pharmacology team at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) within Altos Labs. In this role, you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge research in a unique environment where leading research labs work side by side with industry scientists. The ideal candidate will bring a deep passion for science, a proven track record of creative problem-solving, and a collaborative spirit to drive forward our mission of understanding and harnessing the cellular mechanisms of aging and cellular rejuvenation. This is a unique opportunity to join a dynamic team and shape pioneering projects within a vibrant and supportive scientific environment.

You will be responsible for working with researchers at the Institutes of Science (IOS), Computation (IoC), and Medicine (IoM) and lead the development of biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays to characterize therapeutic targets and evaluate modality-specific mechanisms of action. The ideal candidate brings strong conceptual and technical grounding in protein-protein interactions and protein engineering, and can apply that expertise to assay design, screen development, and pharmacological characterization. The position involves close collaboration with researchers across biology, chemistry, and computation to advance discovery-stage programs. Your expertise and leadership will be instrumental in driving forward our efforts to understand the deep mechanistic biology of rejuvenation/aging in support of target validation and drug discovery. 

We expect you to have a strong commitment to a team-based approach, with an emphasis on collaborative success and open communication. The ideal candidate should see themselves as an integral part of a larger team, actively contributing to a supportive and inclusive environment, sharing knowledge, and working together to overcome challenges and achieve collective goals.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in leading and managing scientific projects, with a proven ability to guide research from conceptualization through to execution and analysis. This includes setting project goals, designing experimental frameworks, managing timelines, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to achieve milestones and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Conceive, develop, and optimize biophysical, biochemical, and cell-based assays to characterize protein targets and evaluate modality-specific mechanisms of action (e.g., protein-protein interactions, receptor activation, signaling cascades)
• Develop assay platforms to enable screening and mechanistic characterization of therapeutic proteins, antibodies, and small molecules
• Apply principles of protein engineering to inform construct design for target engagement, stability, or mechanistic studies
• Manage and coordinate recombinant protein expression and purification at CROs or in-house, ensuring proteins are fit-for-purpose for downstream assays
• Design and execute cell-based assays (e.g., reporter assays, signaling readouts) to complement biochemical studies and evaluate function in a cellular context
• Lead in vitro pharmacology efforts for multiple projects efficiently and collaboratively to reach go/no-go decisions
• Proactively initiate and maintain collaborations with Institute of Science (IOS) and Institute of Computation (IoC) labs and cross-functional teams to identify and validate novel drug targets
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to inform target validation, screen design, and data interpretation across therapeutic programs
• Drive data analysis and interpretation to guide decision-making processes
• Support a diverse portfolio of early exploratory and drug-discovery stage projects
• Stay abreast of the latest scientific and technological advancements in the field

Who You Are 

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Pharmacology, Structural Biology, or a related field, with at least 6 years of relevant industry and/or postdoctoral experience in drug discovery or mechanistic biology
• Deep expertise in protein science, including:
• Protein–protein interaction characterization (e.g., SPR, BLI, ITC)
• Engineering and optimization of recombinant proteins and antibodies
• Protein construct design, production and purification workflows
• Extensive experience designing and executing biochemical and biophysical assays, including:
• Enzymatic assays, ELISAs, Luminex, AlphaLISA, TR-FRET
• Binding and kinetics assays for mechanistic and target engagement studies
• Assays for receptor activation, signal transduction, or degradation pathways
• Experience with cell-based assay development, including:
• Reporter gene assays
• Engineered cell lines and primary cell models
• Flow cytometry, high-content imaging, or pathway-specific readouts
• Familiarity with high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms and assay miniaturization is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to design and troubleshoot assays to support diverse therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, nucleic acids, gene therapies)
• Strong conceptual grounding in mechanism-of-action studies and pharmacological characterization
• Experience working on cellular models relevant to age-related diseases (e.g., metabolic, neurodegenerative, immune-related, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal) is desirable
• Strong record of scientific productivity and the ability to independently design rigorous, reproducible, and generalizable experiments
• Proficient in documenting and communicating results clearly (e.g., ELN, slide decks, team presentations)
• Strong collaboration and communication skills; ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams

The salary range for Redwood City, CA:

• Senior Scientist I: $166,000 - $236,680
• Senior Scientist II: $194,000 - $272,400

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

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- This Privacy Notice is not a contract, express or implied and it does not set terms or conditions of employment.

What We Want You To Know

We are a culture of collaboration and scientific excellence, and we believe in the values of inclusion and belonging to inspire innovation.

Altos Labs provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. 

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

Altos currently requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to legally required exemptions (e.g., due to a medical condition or sincerely-held religious belief).

Thank you for your interest in Altos Labs where we strive for a culture of scientific excellence, learning, and belonging.

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