Senior Computational and Experimental Scientist

Clera; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Clera, an early-stage AI-driven biotech company in New York, seeks a versatile scientist to advance protein design and model-driven biotech workflows. You will refine diffusion and language models, operate an inference platform, and develop protocols for liquid handlers while supporting customer adoption.

The role blends hands-on wet-lab work (BLI/SPR assays) with software-driven optimization, leveraging tools like ESM and ProtT5. Hybrid work in NY is offered.

Qualifications

• 2+ years building or operating protein design/structure prediction systems in a design-make-test workflow.
• 3+ years in biotech or life sciences software GTM, solutions engineering, or customer success.
• Hands-on experience with Hamilton, Tecan, Opentrons liquid handlers.
• Hands-on experience designing BLI or SPR assays and fitting kinetic curves.
• Experience with tools such as ESM, ProtT5, RFdiffusion, BindCraft; Python or scripting for automation.
• Biology knowledge including protein structure and receptor biology.
• Experience with scientific software users and biotech sales cycles is valuable.

Responsibilities

• Refine discrete diffusion, protein language, and structure prediction models, including model architectures and constrained redesign workflows.
• Operate and improve a scientific inference platform, and analyze user behavior, usage patterns, and churn.
• Write, debug, and deploy protocols for liquid-handling robots and manage screening instrumentation.
• Run BLI or SPR assays end-to-end, from assay design and sample preparation through kinetic fitting and quality control.
• Diagnose experimental and computational failure modes, including mass transport, nonspecific binding, aggregation, and poor referencing.
• Design sequences, synthesize or express them, measure kinetics, update models, and iterate on improved candidates.
• Support scientific users and customer adoption with accurate, personalized outreach and an understanding of biotech buying processes.

Skills

Protein design systems

Biotech software GTM

Liquid handling methods

BLI/SPR assays

Biology knowledge

Biotech sales cycles

Tools

ESM

ProtT5

RFdiffusion

BindCraft

Job description

About the Role

Join a lean team at an early-stage AI-driven biotech company, working across computational protein design, experimental biology, and scientific software. You will help close the design-make-test-model loop, using experimental results to improve models and deliver more useful sequences.

What You'll Do

• Refine discrete diffusion, protein language, and structure prediction models, including model architectures and constrained redesign workflows.

• Operate and improve a scientific inference platform, and analyze user behavior, usage patterns, and churn.

• Write, debug, and deploy protocols for liquid-handling robots and manage screening instrumentation.

• Run BLI or SPR assays end-to-end, from assay design and sample preparation through kinetic fitting and quality control.

• Diagnose experimental and computational failure modes, including mass transport, nonspecific binding, aggregation, and poor referencing.

• Design sequences, synthesize or express them, measure kinetics, update models, and iterate on improved candidates.

• Support scientific users and customer adoption with accurate, personalized outreach and an understanding of biotech buying processes.

What We're Looking For

• At least 2 years building or operating protein design, protein language, or structure prediction systems in a design-make-test workflow.

• At least 3 years in biotech or life sciences software go-to-market, solutions engineering, or customer success, including converting free users to paid offerings.

• Hands‑on experience writing production methods for Hamilton, Tecan, Opentrons, or equivalent liquid handlers.

• Hands‑on experience designing BLI or SPR assays, fitting kinetic curves, and troubleshooting assay results.

• Practical experience with tools such as ESM, ProtT5, RFdiffusion, BindCraft, or equivalents, plus Python or similar scripting for automation and data analysis.

• Biology, biochemistry, or life sciences knowledge, including protein structure, receptor biology, and scoring functions.

• Experience with scientific software users, biotech sales cycles, peptide design, protein engineering, or drug discovery is valuable.

Compensation & Benefits

Consulting engagement compensation is $3,000 to $5,000 per month. Full‑time conversion offers a base salary of $80,000 to $200,000 annually, depending on experience, plus equity. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

Hybrid, based in New York, United States, with increased on‑site presence as internal screening operations launch.