Scientist, Responsive Protein Engineering and Screening

FL116, backed by Flagship Pioneering, is an early-stage biotechnology company transforming the way biomolecules are synthesized. Our innovative platform has the potential to redefine how critical research, diagnostic, and therapeutic molecules are designed and built. We are seeking passionate problem solvers ready to make a profound impact on biotechnology and therapeutic innovation.

Position Summary

We are seeking a creative, motivated, and technically exceptional scientist to join our Protein Science team. This role will focus on engineering and characterizing stimulus-responsive proteins, with an emphasis on light-responsive domains and allosteric control mechanisms.

The scientist will contribute to the design, expression, and screening of engineered protein variants, building scalable assay systems and workflows to evaluate activity and responsiveness across diverse conditions. This role is ideal for a hands-on experimentalist excited to work at the intersection of protein engineering, high-throughput screening, and platform development in a fast-paced, highly collaborative startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

Design, express, and characterize engineered protein variants incorporating stimulus-responsive domains (e.g., light, voltage, temperature).

Execute high-throughput protein expression workflows in bacterial and/or cell-free systems to support rapid screening of variant libraries.

Develop and optimize functional assays to measure protein activity and responsiveness to external stimuli using plate-based and automated platforms.

Build and refine scalable experimental workflows integrating protein production, screening, and data capture.

Analyze and interpret experimental data to generate actionable insights and inform iterative design cycles.

Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Assay Development and Machine Learning, to integrate experimental outputs into broader platform efforts.

Document experimental procedures and results rigorously; communicate findings clearly to internal stakeholders.

Contribute to the growth of the Protein Science function, including lab infrastructure, best practices, and experimental strategy.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, Molecular Biology, Synthetic Biology, or a related discipline.

0–3 years of relevant experience in industry, biotechnology, or startup environments.

Demonstrated expertise in protein engineering, including design and characterization of engineered or chimeric proteins.

Hands-on experience with stimulus-responsive or allosterically regulated protein systems, particularly light-responsive domains.