Scientist, Peptide Chemistry

Capable; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Wellness budget

Healthcare coverage

HSA/FSA/401K

Team dinners

Visa sponsorship

Job summary

Capable is seeking a hands-on peptide synthesis specialist in San Francisco to own the full synthesis workflow, from resin loading to purification, quality control, and handoff to biological testing. You will troubleshoot issues and contribute observations to improve the next design cycle.

The role emphasizes ownership of the molecules produced, maintaining rigorous records, and close collaboration with a fast-paced, growth-oriented team in an early-stage environment.

Qualifications

• Hands-on chemistry experience and ability to learn quickly
• Interest in owning end-to-end synthesis: running reactions, purifying, characterizing and preparing material
• Creative, fast, rigorous approach to experimental problem solving
• Willingness to stay close to biological readouts and use potency data to guide design
• High agency when equipment breaks or handoffs are unclear
• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis, HPLC, prep HPLC, or LC-MS is valuable but trainable

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end peptide synthesis workflows including resin loading, coupling and deprotection cycles, cleavage, purification, analytical characterization, and sample preparation.
• Run microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and support routine synthesizer maintenance.
• Troubleshoot failed couplings, low crude purity, side products, cleavage issues, and instrument downtime.
• Purify and characterize candidates using analytical HPLC, prep HPLC, LC-MS, and related methods.
• Record identity, purity, yield, analytical traces, and batch-level QC data before handoff.
• Prepare compounds for in vitro and in vivo testing and maintain accurate experimental records.
• Share synthesis feasibility, purity, yield, stability, and observations to inform next designs.

Skills

Peptide synthesis

Analytical thinking

Experimental discipline

Problem solving

Documentation

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelors in Chemistry or related field

Tools

HPLC

Prep HPLC

LC-MS

Microwave peptide synthesizer

Job description

We are a vibrant and intensely mission-driven team in San Francisco, comprising members from MIT, Harvard Medical School, Roche, ETH, and Dana-Farber. We value speed and rigor, coupled with excitement, drive, and a strong work ethic. In an early-stage environment, we value people who can bring clarity to open-ended problems, take ownership of the next steps, and follow through with energy.

Capable Labs is a place for ambitious, high-integrity people who want to become dramatically better. You will be surrounded by people who care intensely about the work, get close feedback from the people making scientific and company-defining decisions, and have room to own increasingly important problems.

We believe excellent work should be met with meaningful reward, ownership, and trust. Responsibility is earned through contribution, not title alone: anyone who demonstrates the judgment, rigor, and follow-through to move important work forward can earn meaningful scope.

About the Role

You will make and characterize peptide candidates that move directly into biological testing. You will execute the full synthesis workflow—from resin loading through purification, quality control, and sample handoff—while troubleshooting failures and contributing observations that improve the next design cycle. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants close ownership of the molecules they produce.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end peptide synthesis workflows, including resin loading, coupling and deprotection cycles, cleavage, purification, analytical characterization, and sample preparation.

• Run microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and support routine synthesizer maintenance.

• Troubleshoot failed couplings, low crude purity, side products, cleavage issues, and instrument downtime.

• Purify and characterize candidates using analytical HPLC, prep HPLC, LC-MS, and related methods.

• Record identity, purity, yield, analytical traces, and batch-level quality-control data before handoff.

• Prepare compounds for in vitro and in vivo testing and maintain accurate experimental records.

• Share synthesis feasibility, purity, yield, stability, and analytical observations that inform what the team designs and makes next.

Ideal Qualifications

• Hands-on chemistry experience and strong experimental discipline; your education path matters less than your ability to learn quickly and produce high-quality results.

• Interest in owning synthesis end to end: running reactions, purifying and characterizing compounds, documenting results, and preparing material for testing.

• A creative, fast, and rigorous approach to experimental problem-solving.

• Interest in staying close to biological readouts and understanding how potency and efficacy data inform the next design cycle.

• High agency when an instrument breaks, a synthesis fails, results look unusual, or a handoff is unclear.

• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis, HPLC, prep HPLC, or LC-MS is valuable, but we can teach specific workflows.

Pay & Benefits

• In addition to the posted salary range, we offer generous equity options.

• Compensation will depend on the skills, experience, and scope of impact you bring. If your background, experience, or compensation needs fall outside this range, we are still open to a conversation based on the scope and impact you could bring.

• $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools that help you perform at your best.

• Healthcare: We offer a broad range of medical, dental, and vision coverage options, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.

• You will also have access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans.

• Healthy dinners with the team are provided daily.

• We support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways. Our team is already international, with members from Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, India, and the United States.

Equal Opportunity

Capable is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Capable is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.