Scientist, Peptide Chemistry (Night Shift)

Capable Labs; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Wellness budget

Healthcare coverage

HSA/FSA/401K

Daily team dinners

Job summary

Capable Labs is seeking a dedicated team member to run overnight peptide-synthesis workflows in a San Francisco laboratory. You will own the overnight execution, troubleshoot issues, and hand off clear results to the day team.

You will perform resin loading, coupling, deprotection, purification, and characterization, using HPLC/LC-MS as needed, with meticulous record-keeping and precise sample handoffs.

Qualifications

• Hands-on chemistry or biochemistry laboratory experience.
• Interest in owning the overnight synthesis workflow from reaction execution through purification, characterization, documentation, and sample handoff.
• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis, HPLC, prep HPLC, or LC-MS is valuable, but training can be provided.

Responsibilities

• Execute overnight peptide synthesis workflows, including resin loading, coupling and deprotection cycles, cleavage, purification, characterization, and sample preparation.
• Run microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and support routine synthesizer maintenance during night-shift hours.
• 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 for morning handoff.
• Prepare compounds for in vitro and in vivo testing and maintain accurate experimental records.
• Provide clear handoffs covering completed work, failures, results, sample locations, risks, and follow-up actions.

Skills

Night shift

Laboratory experience

Peptide synthesis

Analytical techniques

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

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 run peptide-synthesis workflows on a dedicated night-shift schedule so compounds are ready for characterization, biological testing, or handoff the next day. You will own careful overnight execution, troubleshoot issues independently, maintain complete records, and give the day team a clear account of every batch, result, and open question.

Responsibilities

• Execute overnight peptide synthesis workflows, including resin loading, coupling and deprotection cycles, cleavage, purification, characterization, and sample preparation.

• Run microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and support routine synthesizer maintenance during night-shift hours.

• 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 for morning handoff.

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

• Provide clear handoffs covering completed work, failures, results, sample locations, risks, and follow-up actions.

Ideal Qualifications

• Able and willing to work the designated night-shift schedule reliably and operate independently when needed.

• Hands-on chemistry or biochemistry laboratory experience and strong experimental discipline.

• Interest in owning the overnight synthesis workflow from reaction execution through purification, characterization, documentation, and sample handoff.

• A fast, rigorous, and safety-conscious approach to laboratory work.

• Proactive judgment when an instrument breaks, a synthesis fails, data look unusual, or a handoff needs clarification.

• 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.