Staff Scientist/Enzyme Engineering

About GigaCropAt GigaCrop, our mission is to revolutionize agriculture by enhancing the efficiency of photosynthesis through pioneering scientific discovery and engineering. Founded by leading experts in synthetic biology, GigaCrop deploys advanced enzyme engineering and machine learning to accelerate crop yields while maintaining sustainability and global resilience. By reimagining plant growth and creating proprietary carbon fixation pathways, our technology enables crops to utilize existing resources more effectively, leading to bountiful harvests without expanding land, water, or fertilizer usage. Team members at GigaCrop work collaboratively in a culture of bold problem-solving and scientific rigor, directly contributing to greater food security, biodiversity preservation, and climate impact on a global scale.Position OverviewGigaCrop is seeking a Staff Scientist to join our enzyme engineering team in the Bay Area. This critical on-site role involves developing and implementing robust experimental workflows to help scale our capabilities, directly supporting our mission to create a more sustainable and bountiful agricultural future. The position requires strong collaboration within the team, active contribution to process improvements, and a commitment to training and assisting fellow scientists to maximize group impact and support ongoing innovation.ResponsibilitiesDrive enzyme engineering projects focused on enzyme design, library construction, and assay integration, aligning with team objectives.Lead collaboration with assay development scientists to design, implement, and optimize high-throughput screening protocols.Develop scalable workflows and leverage limited automation to improve the efficiency and reproducibility of enzyme engineering and in vitro assays.Establish and refine DNA library construction protocols to enhance diversity, fidelity, and quality.Design and implement data analysis pipelines to monitor quality control (QC) for DNA libraries and screening results.Support laboratory infrastructure development, equipment setup, maintenance, and inventory management for daily research activities.QualificationsA Ph.D. in Enzyme Engineering, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field with 5-8 years of postdoctoral or industry experience. We will also consider exceptional senior-level candidates with equivalent expertise.Extensive hands-on experience in enzyme engineering, molecular cloning, directed evolution, and library design.Proven success in scaling laboratory workflows and integrating high-throughput strategies in resource-constrained environments.A track record of developing or integrating assays within enzyme engineering workflows.Strong computational and analytical skills for data interpretation and quality control.Demonstrated experience in mentoring and guiding junior scientists.The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.Familiarity with computational enzyme design tools and experience with non-model bacterial strains, plants, or human cells is a bonus.Compensation and BenefitsSalary range: 140K-160K annuallyComprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.A 401(k) plan with an employer contribution15 additional days of paid leave in addition to eleven federal holidaysHow to ApplyApply directly through our LinkedIn job posting by submitting your CV and a cover letter.We are currently not supporting H1B sponsorships.

Created: 2025-10-01