Back to jobs
New

Senior Principal Scientist

South San Francisco, California, United States

About Xaira Therapeutics

Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on scientific leader to establish and drive our Exploration Technology efforts. This role is critical for accelerating and enhancing our biologics discovery engine. The successful candidate will be responsible for pioneering the identification, development, and implementation of next-generation platforms spanning high-throughput antibody screening, advanced molecular biology, microfluidics, and bioengineering. This individual will be a key driver of innovation, collaborating closely with drug developers, AI/ML scientists, biologists, and other technologists to unlock novel therapeutic modalities and accelerate the path to the clinic.

Key Responsibilities

  • Spearhead the identification, evaluation, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies to enhance the speed, scale, and quality of our biologics discovery campaigns.
  • Act as a key individual contributor, providing hands-on expertise in the lab to de-risk new technologies and establish robust workflows in areas such as high-throughput screening, microfluidics, advanced imaging, and novel molecular biology tools.
  • Build, lead, mentor, and manage a dedicated team of 2 Ph.D.-level scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and scientific rigor.
  • Partner closely with multidisciplinary teams, including drug discovery, protein sciences, AI/ML, and biology, to define key scientific questions and integrate new technological capabilities into discovery workflows.
  • Drive the design, execution, and optimization of sophisticated screening assays and technology development projects that directly impact program goals.
  • Develop and champion the strategic vision for technology innovation within biologics discovery, staying current with the latest scientific and technological advancements.
  • Present scientific findings, project progress, and strategic proposals to internal and external stakeholders, contributing to publications and intellectual property filings.
  • Oversee experimental design, protocol development, and resource allocation for the Exploration Technology team to ensure project milestones and scientific objectives are met.

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, or a related field with 8+ years of post-doctoral experience in an academic or industry setting, with a focus on technology development.
  • Demonstrated hands-on expertise in one or more of the following areas: high-throughput antibody screening, microfluidics, advanced microscopy/imaging, complex cell-based assay development, and molecular biology innovation (e.g., library construction, genetic engineering).
  • Proven track record of technology development and implementation, successfully onboarding new platforms that have tangibly impacted discovery programs.
  • Experience with a wide range of biological systems, including mammalian cell culture, primary cells, and complex cellular models relevant to biologics discovery.
  • Prior experience in a leadership or mentorship role is required, with a demonstrated ability to manage and develop Ph.D. level scientists effectively.
  • Experience or strong enthusiasm for working at the interface of biology and data science; ability to collaborate effectively with AI/ML and computational scientists.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for scientific presentations, reports, and publications.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative research environment focused on scientific innovation and impact.

Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $173,000-$210,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.

Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.

Xaira Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform critical job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact Human Resources to request accommodation.

TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Xaira Therapeutics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias or employees. Xaira Therapeutics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.  

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Xaira Therapeutics? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Xaira Therapeutics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.