Senior Research Associate, Protein Engineering

Sarmal; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Company-paid life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Employee perks and discount programs

Job summary

Sarmal, Inc. in San Diego is seeking a Senior Research Associate to execute protein engineering experiments, generate libraries, perform cloning, expression, purification, and high-throughput screening of enzyme variants.

You will help establish scalable screening workflows, analyze data, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance enzyme optimization for next-generation sequencing applications. This role requires hands-on experience in mutagenesis, cloning, protein expression in E.

Qualifications

• Industry experience in protein engineering, molecular biology, or enzyme engineering.
• Hands-on experience with library generation, mutagenesis, and high-throughput screening workflows.
• Familiarity with molecular cloning techniques including Gibson/Golden Gate, PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis.
• Experience expressing recombinant proteins in bacterial systems (E. coli).
• Knowledge of protein purification techniques including affinity chromatography and FPLC.
• Experience with enzyme activity assays and screening large numbers of variants.
• Strong skills in DNA preparation, sequencing verification, and plasmid construction.
• Excellent organizational, troubleshooting, and experimental documentation skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Construct mutagenesis libraries using site-directed, saturation, and combinatorial mutagenesis techniques.
• Perform molecular cloning, plasmid construction, and library quality assessment.
• Execute high-throughput protein engineering workflows for enzyme variant generation and screening.
• Express and purify recombinant proteins using bacterial expression systems.
• Perform automated and semi-automated screening assays in 96- and 384-well plate formats.
• Execute biochemical and functional assays to identify improved enzyme variants.
• Support development and optimization of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays.
• Characterize enzyme variants using activity assays and preliminary kinetic analyses.
• Maintain library inventories and experimental databases.
• Analyze screening results and summarize findings for project teams.
• Troubleshoot cloning, expression, purification, and screening workflows.
• Collaborate with Protein Engineering, Biochemistry, Computational Biology, and Automation teams.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and contribute to SOP development.

Skills

Protein engineering

Molecular biology

Enzyme engineering

Directed evolution

HTS knowledge

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Protein Engineering, Chemical Biology, or related field

B.S. with 5–8 years or M.S. with 2–3 years of relevant industry experience

Tools

Gibson Assembly

Golden Gate Assembly

PCR

Site-directed mutagenesis

E. coli expression

Affinity chromatography

FPLC

Automation/HTS platforms

Automated liquid handling

Job description

Company Overview

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights.

We are a highly collaborative, R&D-driven team operating in a fast-paced, early-stage environment. Our scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve complex technical challenges and translate innovation into scalable, real-world applications.

At Sarmal, we value scientific rigor, curiosity, and a builder mindset. We are looking for individuals who are energized by ambiguity, motivated by impact, and excited to help bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

About The Job

The Senior Research Associate will execute protein engineering experiments including library generation, molecular cloning, protein expression, purification, and high-throughput screening of enzyme variants. Working closely with the Protein Engineering team members, this individual will help establish scalable screening workflows and generate high-quality experimental data to support enzyme optimization for next-generation sequencing applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Construct mutagenesis libraries using site-directed, saturation, and combinatorial mutagenesis techniques.


• Perform molecular cloning, plasmid construction, and library quality assessment.


• Execute high-throughput protein engineering workflows for enzyme variant generation and screening.


• Express and purify recombinant proteins using bacterial expression systems.


• Perform automated and semi-automated screening assays in 96- and 384-well plate formats.


• Execute biochemical and functional assays to identify improved enzyme variants.


• Support development and optimization of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays.


• Characterize enzyme variants using activity assays and preliminary kinetic analyses.


• Maintain library inventories and experimental databases.


• Analyze screening results and summarize findings for project teams.


• Troubleshoot cloning, expression, purification, and screening workflows.


• Collaborate with Protein Engineering, Biochemistry, Computational Biology, and Automation teams.


• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and contribute to SOP development.

Qualifications

• Industry experience in protein engineering, molecular biology, or enzyme engineering.


• Hands-on experience generating mutagenesis libraries and recombinant DNA constructs.


• Familiarity with protein engineering workflows, including directed evolution and library generation.


• Experience with high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms and automated liquid handling is highly desirable.


• Experience with molecular cloning techniques, including Gibson Assembly, Golden Gate Assembly, PCR, and site-directed mutagenesis.


• Experience expressing recombinant proteins in bacterial systems (e.g., E. coli).


• Familiarity with protein purification techniques including affinity chromatography and FPLC.


• Experience performing enzyme activity assays and screening large numbers of variants.


• Strong molecular biology skills including DNA preparation, sequencing verification, and plasmid construction.


• Excellent organizational, troubleshooting, and experimental documentation skills.


• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment.

Education & Experience

• B.S. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Protein Engineering, Chemical Biology, or a related field.


• B.S. with 5–8 years or M.S. with 2–3 years of relevant industry experience.


• Demonstrated experience in protein engineering or enzyme engineering laboratories.


• Hands-on experience with library generation, mutagenesis, and high-throughput screening workflows.


• Experience with recombinant protein expression and purification.


• Experience supporting directed evolution or enzyme optimization projects is strongly preferred.


• Experience with polymerases, nucleic acid enzymes, or sequencing technologies is a strong plus.

Benefits & Perks

Sarmal offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage


• Company-paid life insurance


• 401(k) retirement plan


• Generous paid time off


• Access to additional voluntary benefits, employee perks, and discount programs


• We are committed to supporting the well-being of our employees and providing a strong foundation for both professional and personal success.

$72,000 - $85,000 a year

California Pay Transparency Statement.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $72,000 – $85,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skill set, and internal equity considerations.

EEO Statement

Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and consider all qualified candidates in accordance with applicable laws.

Why Join Sarmal

• Work on cutting-edge genomics and molecular detection technologies


• Collaborate with a deeply technical, cross-functional team


• Contribute to foundational platform development at an early stage


• Have visibility into and impact on core technical and strategic decisions


• Help shape the infrastructure, culture, and future direction of the company

Closing Statement

Join us in advancing the next generation of genomic technologies and shaping the future of precision health.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.