Director of Protein Engineering — Lead Yeast Display Platform

SystImmune, Inc.; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid employee premiums for health

401(k) with 50% company match up to 3%

15 PTO days per year

11 paid holidays

Job summary

SystImmune seeks a Director of Protein Engineering in Bothell, WA to lead the FUSE team, drive platform ownership, and guide program-level decisions across bi-specific/multi-specific antibodies and ADCs. The role combines hands-on leadership with strategic direction and cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will own the next-generation yeast display platform, oversee library design, selection workflows, and integration with automation, while mentoring scientists and advancing

Qualifications

• PhD in protein engineering, biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, bioengineering, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of industry experience in biologics drug discovery and development.
• Minimum 8 years of hands-on experience with yeast display, including library design and construction, FACS-based selection and sorting, deep sequencing, and downstream characterization.
• Demonstrated experience building or substantially advancing a yeast display platform with integration to automation.
• Track record leading a team of scientists and research associates with hiring, mentoring and performance management.
• Delivery of engineered binders or therapeutic leads into a biologics pipeline, ideally including bi-specific or multi-specific formats.
• Strong knowledge of antibody formats and engineering strategies (IgG, Fab, scFv, VHH).
• Experience leading display campaigns alongside discovery modalities (phage display, AI-based design) preferred.
• Excellent scientific judgment and decisive campaign strategy, hit triage and resource allocation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for senior leadership and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of scientists and research associates with clear direction and career development.
• Own and advance the next-generation yeast display platform and integrate with FUSE automation.
• Direct display-based discovery and engineering campaigns for bi-specific and multi-specific antibodies and ADC binders.
• Represent FUSE in project teams and portfolio reviews; translate program needs into platform deliverables and timelines.
• Ensure data quality, reproducibility, and SOP/LIMS compliance across the team.
• Stay current on innovations in protein engineering, display tech, and lab automation.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Protein engineering

Project planning

Decision making

Data interpretation

Education

PhD in protein engineering or related field

Tools

Yeast display platform

FACS-based selection

Laboratory automation

NGS

Job description

SystImmune seeks a Director of Protein Engineering in Bothell, WA to lead the FUSE team, drive platform ownership, and guide program-level decisions across bi-specific/multi-specific antibodies and ADCs. The role combines hands-on leadership with strategic direction and cross-functional collaboration.

The successful candidate will own the next-generation yeast display platform, oversee library design, selection workflows, and integration with automation, while mentoring scientists and advancing