Protein Engineer – Biosensors for Next-Gen Brain Interfaces

Merge; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab developing brain-computer interfaces that interact with neural activity at high bandwidth. As a Protein Engineer - Biosensors, you will design, build, and optimize proteins translating cellular signals into interpretable imaging outputs.

You will work with unconventional proteins and collaborate with computational and biochemist teams to push the boundaries of biosensor capabilities.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience leading research projects end-to-end.
• Experience with biosensors or novel protein functionality.
• Proficient in library construction and mammalian cell expression.
• Familiar with computational approaches for protein engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement biosensor engineering strategies — from rational design to directed evolution.
• Build and characterize protein variants at high throughput across assays.
• Collaborate with machine learning team to model sequences and function.
• Explore mechanisms of complex biomolecules and design novel constructs.
• Develop screening and validation methods to accelerate the design-build-iterate loop.

Skills

Protein engineering

Molecular biology

High-throughput screening

Computational design

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Bioengineering, Biophysics, Biochemistry, or related field

Tools

Library construction

Protein expression in mammalian cells

Assays

Job description

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab developing brain-computer interfaces that interact with neural activity at high bandwidth. As a Protein Engineer - Biosensors, you will design, build, and optimize proteins translating cellular signals into interpretable imaging outputs.

You will work with unconventional proteins and collaborate with computational and biochemist teams to push the boundaries of biosensor capabilities.