Strategic Projects Lead - Engineering (Life Sciences & Chemical)

afterquery.com; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k) with Employer Match

Daily UberEats stipend

Monthly Wellness stipend

Job summary

AfterQuery, an applied research lab in San Francisco, seeks a scientist-engineer to architect core data solutions powering foundation models. You will work with world-leading AI organizations to shape datasets, evaluation methods, and model improvement strategies.

Join a founding-team environment with potential equity, high visibility, and the chance to influence cutting-edge AI at scale while collaborating across disciplines and solving complex, real-world constraints.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of industry or applied research in life-sciences fields.
• Strong technical background in chemical/bioprocess disciplines and drug development.
• Ability to evaluate technical reasoning and tradeoffs in complex problems.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects with world-leading AI organizations to build data solutions.
• Lead cross-domain teams across finance, software, law, and more to deliver outputs.
• Design dataset specifications to influence how foundation models are evaluated.
• Own projects end-to-end from scoping to delivery in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Life sciences experience

Leadership & communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Patents or publications

Education

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in chemical/biochemical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, or related field

Tools

Python

Job description

ABOUT AFTERQUERY

AfterQuery https://www.afterquery.com/ is an applied research lab curating data solutions for foundation model development. We serve every frontier AI lab with the mission of delivering the best data to power the best models. In doing so, we can make expertise that once took a lifetime to build available to anyone who needs it.

Our customers are the ones building the foundation models themselves and our work sits directly in the loop of how those systems improve. This is a rare opportunity to join a company at a defining moment in AI. Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation. We're based in San Francisco and backed by leading investors including Altos Ventures, BoxGroup, and Y Combinator and angels from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Superintelligence Labs, and Microsoft AI.

WHY APPLY

Massive Opportunity: Forbes reported that we could be YC's fastest unicorn, reportedly raising at a $3.2 billion valuation, and we're not slowing down.

Founding Impact: You will own and architect core infrastructure systems that power our platform from the ground up.

Equity & Growth: Competitive salary and meaningful equity. As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the engineering organization and lead major technical initiatives.

Strong Team: Our founding team has experience from Citadel Securities, Meta, Google, Silver Lake, and Morgan Stanley — work alongside world-class engineers and researchers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Project and client management: Work with the world’s leading AI organizations to build next-generation data solutions that push the limits of model capability, while directly driving revenue.

Manage expert teams across domains: Lead and coordinate highly specialized contributors across fields like finance, software engineering, law, and more to create high-quality outputs at scale.

Shape how AI systems are trained: Design dataset specifications that directly influence how frontier models are evaluated and improved. Your taste and judgement will shape what foundation models become.

Drive high-impact execution end-to-end: Own critical projects from idea to delivery. From scoping, executing, iterating, and shipping in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment, you will touch it all.

Gain top tier operational experience: Support the team across a range of operational initiatives that will directly contribute to the future of AfterQuery. You will work across multiple parts of the business in the same week, ranging from building, analyzing, coordinating, and executing where needed most.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• - 3+ years of industry or applied research experience in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, or a related life-sciences field.
• - Strong technical background in at least one relevant discipline, such as chemical process design, process modeling and optimization, bioprocess engineering, drug development, or biomedical systems.
• - Deep understanding of scientific and engineering fundamentals within your area of expertise, with the ability to evaluate technical reasoning, identify errors, and assess real‑world constraints and tradeoffs.
• - High agency and strong work ethic; comfort defining problems and thriving with minimal direction in ambiguous situations.
• - Demonstrated leadership excellence and strong communication abilities.
• - Genuine passion for AI and an entrepreneurial inclination.
• - Demonstrated competitive success (e.g., patents, publications, research awards, or top‑tier academic/professional achievement).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• - Proficiency in Python or experience with scientific computing, process simulation, or analysis tools relevant to your discipline (e.g., Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, MATLAB, COMSOL, or computational biology tools).
• - Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, or a related field.
• - Experience in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, bioprocessing, or medical‑device development.
• - Familiarity with Claude Code or similar AI‑assisted workflows.

COMPANY BENEFITS (FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES):

• - Health Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental
• - 401(k) with Employer Match
• - Daily Meals: Daily UberEats Stipend
• - Monthly Wellness Stipend

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We comply with applicable pay transparency requirements and provide compensation ranges based on the position, qualifications, experience, and other relevant factors. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. We reserve the right to modify this job description as business needs change.