Scientist I – New Technologies

About Enlaza Therapeutics

Enlaza Therapeutics is pioneering a disruptive new class of biologic drugs called War-Locks. Unlike traditional protein therapeutics, War-Locks are uniquely engineered to bind specifically and irreversibly to disease-related targets. We are committed to developing these innovative therapies to help patients battling cancer and other serious illnesses.

Role Description

Enlaza Therapeutics’ New Technologies team is seeking a highly motivated Scientist I with experience in discovering therapeutic binders, alongside experience in molecular biology, protein engineering, and protein production. This person will help steer the development of new therapeutic concepts and applications. The ideal candidate should:

• possess strong scientific rigor, creativity, and problem-solving skills
• be proficient in independently designing and executing experiments
• have excellent communication, documentation, and organizational skills
• be eager to expand their skill set in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment

This laboratory-focused position offers an exceptional opportunity to work with a driven team committed to excellence while interfacing directly with multiple research groups, including biotherapeutic discovery, platform engineering, protein sciences, pharmacology, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement strategies for the discovery of novel binders using technologies such as phage and/or yeast display
• Screen libraries against therapeutic targets to identify lead candidates
• Develop and run screening assays (e.g., ELISA, BLI, flow cytometry) to evaluate binder-target interactions and rank candidates
• Engineer and optimize candidates for improved affinity, specificity, stability, and manufacturability using techniques like affinity maturation, humanization, and/or rational design
• Characterize binding kinetics and epitope specificity using BLI
• Utilize molecular biology and protein engineering knowledge to design novel multifunctional antibodies
• Express and purify (using affinity, ion exchange, size exclusion, and other chromatographic methods) protein candidates with high quality and purity specifications; operate lab-scale systems such as ÄKTA
• Perform routine protein analysis techniques such as ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting
• Coordinate antibody characterization workflows, including sample submission for LC-MS, analytical SEC, and functional cell assays; analyze, organize, and present resulting data
• Lead and prioritize multiple concurrent research activities with minimal supervision
• Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely documentation of experiments in an electronic laboratory notebook (ELN), adhering to internal protocols and regulatory standards
• Clearly and effectively communicate experimental plans, progress, and findings to supervisors, cross-functional teams, and company-wide audiences through reports and presentations
• Proactively track emerging developments in protein chemistry, synthetic biology, and related disciplines, and leverage cutting-edge technologies to fuel innovation

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Engineering, Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering, Immunology, or related scientific discipline
• Minimum of 0 – 2 years related experience; may include post-doctoral experience
• Highly collaborative with strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced, cross-functional team setting
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; able to prioritize and manage multiple projects concurrently

Additional experience preferred by not required:

• Demonstrated and extensive hands-on experience in BLI assay setup, development, execution, and data analysis
• Deep theoretical understanding of key concepts in protein-protein interactions, including affinity, kinetics, valency, selectivity, epitope mapping, thermodynamics, and binding models
• Familiarity with protein engineering techniques, including mutagenesis, affinity maturation, or humanization
• Skilled in a range of modern molecular biology techniques, including vector design, PCR, site-directed mutagenesis, gel extraction, restriction cloning, Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, and plasmid preparation
• Strong background in recombinant protein production and purification from E. coli and/or mammalian systems; familiarity with laboratory-scale purification chromatography platforms such as ÄKTA
• Competent in data analysis and interpretation using tools like Excel, Prism, JMP, Geneious, SnapGene, PyMOL, and Benchling; familiarity with MOE and FlowJo is a plus
• Experienced in standard protein characterization methods such as ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and Western blotting
• Familiarity with LC-MS-based characterization and analytical SEC
• Prior exposure to engineered protein binders (e.g., antibodies, nanobodies/VHHs, DARPins)

Compensation

In addition to a competitive compensation package with stock options, the company also offers a comprehensive benefits package for our employees and their families, which includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental disability insurance.

Job Type

Full-time

Annual Salary Range

$112,000.00 – $135,000.00

Supplemental Pay Types

Bonus pay

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Flexible vacation
• Paid holidays
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance