Strain Engineering Scientist

About ZymoChem

ZymoChem is breakthrough science for a fossil-free future.  We accelerate the transition to a real-zero economy by developing bio-based materials for everyday products.  Our platform is powered by proprietary carbon conserving (C2) microbes that convert renewable feedstocks into high-value materials while radically minimizing CO2 loss during the production phase.  

ZymoChem recently closed a $21 million Series A round of fundraising to support the launch of our first high-performance material and to advance our first partnered product to commercial scale.  In addition to this funding from premier domestic & international venture capital firms, we are also supported by existing revenues from commercial partnerships with world-leading companies and funding from multiple government awards, including a 2023 $4MM grant from the Department of Energy. 

With a plan to double our team in 2024-25, we seek candidates who are motivated by science & innovation and have a passion to push the boundaries of materials performance.  We are collaborative, multidisciplinary, and relentlessly committed to creating a chemicals, materials, and products industry in tune with the 21st century. 

Our Mission: To catalyze a real-zero economy with drop-in, bio-based solutions.

Our Vision: To live in a world in which the goods we depend on every day are bio-manufactured from 100% renewable materials and designed for a sustainable economy - without compromise.

Our Values: Lead with Compassion, Aspire Collectively, Evolve Continuously, Innovate with Impact, Scale Sustainably

Position Summary

The Strain Engineering Scientist position leads efforts affiliated with both strain characterization and fermentation for the fast-paced, goal-driven development of the company’s novel carbon conserving metabolic pathway biotechnology. This role is a growth-based opportunity to acquire extensive, diverse experiences and skills with microbial physiology, strain design, biosynthetic pathway optimization, enzyme development, and fermentation science. The Strain EngineeringScientist will also have an opportunity to build out & expand the Biology team's capabilities with state-of-the-art technologies as well as to collaborate with other internal R&D groups and the company’s external partners.

Responsibilities

• Leads the design, testing and characterization of experiments and assays to optimize pathways for achieving targeted titer, rate, and yield metrics of small molecule products. 
• Prepares, analyzes, and interprets data and clearly documents and maintains laboratory notebooks and computer documentation to collaborate with other R&D teams and management.
• Develops and troubleshoots technical projects, workflows, methods, and activities (such as reagents, samples, standards, and chemical solutions) for ongoing improvement in performance, efficiencies, adaptation/evolution.
• Researches, reads, comprehends, and summarizes relevant scientific literature to support work, contribute to optimization of projects and to explore new technologies or strategies for improvement.
• Presents and conveys complex problems, results, and ideas in group and project meetings or with other internal and external stakeholders. 
• Coordinates with external collaborators, partners, and vendors to ensure smooth workflow between all stakeholders. 
• Assists with basic technical document revision.
• Implement molecular and synthetic biology workflows to support strain & plasmids construction efforts. 
• Construct and validate high-throughput, plate-based fermentation workflows for screening/characterization purposes and bioprocess development; experience applying cutting-edge technologies & strategies to accelerate scale-up efforts from plates to flasks to bioreactors is a plus
• Prior experience programming automation is a big plus: Experience in managing liquid handlers (Opentrons, Biomek, etc.), including designing and optimizing protocols, and onboarding various attachments/equipment to increase capabilities.
• Proficiency in automation-related Microsoft VBA would be beneficial.
• Familiarity with R, Python or similar programming languages for data analysis
• Supports the team and leadership for projects/publication/ patents.
• May mentor or train other personnel.
• Work in accordance with health and safety guidelines and company policies.  
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications 

• Requires MS or PhD in (Bio)chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Bioengineering, or related field. 
• Minimum of 1+ years of relevant lab/ industrial/ start-up experience being preferred.  Relevant experience should align with department specific requirements.
• Demonstrated success working both individually and cross-disciplinary to balance multiple independent experiments/projects; previous mentoring experience is a plus.
• Effective multitasking and prioritization skills and an adept ability to improvise work plans while maintaining efficiency
• Rigorous attention to details with experimental design, execution, noise/variability, reproducibility, and record keeping; and strong computer skills (Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, etc.)
• Proficient in the writing of protocols, and in providing internal presentations.
• Ability to exercise judgment within specifically defined practices and procedures; guided decision making.
• Ability to incorporate safety concepts in processes and equipment design
• Must be able to move up to 25 pounds and move around the lab facility between multiple locations.
• Department specific requirements:
  • Demonstrated ability to reach targeted metrics though design, construction, and testing of strains and metabolic biosynthetic pathways toward small molecule production; hands-on experience with metabolic modeling is a plus.
  • Experience working with the engineering of bacteria is required; additional experience with E. coli and/or other industrially relevant microorganisms is a plus.
  • Aptitude for various aspects of microbial fermentations such as fed-batch & chemostats operations, microaerobic & anaerobic fermentations, media design, strain evolution studies, scale-down fermentation technologies (BioLector, Ambr), and high-throughput, automated culture development
  • Experience with implementing design of experiment (DoE) methods for strain screening/characterization and bioprocess development
  • Hands-on experience with synthetic biology and Strain Engineering techniques such as PCR, Gibson Assembly, restriction digestion, ligation, and homologous recombination
  • Effectively communicate and manage requests from different R&D groups and maintain databases (Benchling)
  • Demonstrated ability to continuously research and improve protocols in combination with a good understanding of SOTA technology that turn into robust workflows

Culture and Benefits

ZymoChem offers full-time employees a competitive base salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and a company culture that’s collaborative, multidisciplinary, and committed to a big vision for positively impacting the world. We seek candidates who are motivated by our mission and are equally passionate toward pushing the boundaries to build a sustainable future. Located in the vibrant East Bay area of San Francisco, our headquarters are housed at Gate 510, a state-of-the-facility with many in-house and nearby amenities.

Full-time opportunities at ZymoChem come with: 

• Competitive salary range of $95,000 to $150,000 depending on experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package includes company stock options, 401(k) retirement plan (includes a corporate match), medical, dental, and vision healthcare coverage, and life and long-term disability insurance.
• Additional benefits include FSA, commuter, and supplemental life insurance.
• Flexible time off policy with 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO) per year and 10 paid company holidays per year.
• Relocation assistance may be agreed upon as well.

If this opportunity sounds exciting and aligns with your career aspirations, we want to hear from you!  Please send your resume/CV and a cover letter through our website job posting.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. ZymoChem may agree to sponsor an individual for an employment visa immediately or in the future if there is a shortage of individuals with particular skills for this job.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

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