Xaira TherapeuticsScientist II, Antibody Discovery (Phage Display)
Xaira Therapeutics is hiring a Scientist II, Antibody Discovery (Phage Display) in South San Francisco, United States. It pays $124k-$155k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Xaira Therapeutics.
Level's read on this job
- Level rates this role Works on AI ●●●○: the daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Python, Flow Cytometry and phage display.
- Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
- Level lists 30 other open roles at Xaira Therapeutics.
AI in this role
Design and execute phage display campaigns to generate high-throughput datasets that train generative AI models for antibody design.
About Xaira Therapeutics
Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London.
About the Role
At Xaira, we're building antibody discovery engines that feed AI-driven design at scale. We're looking for an accomplished protein biochemist to own phage display campaigns end-to-end within our Display Technologies group — designing selection strategies, cracking difficult targets, and turning campaigns into the high-quality datasets that train our antibody design models.
This is a high-ownership role. You'll run your own campaigns, set technical direction, and have the autonomy to push what's possible in display-based discovery. You take pride in rigorous bench execution, think critically about experimental design, and want your data to matter beyond your own project.
Beyond your bench work, you'll help raise the group's level — mentoring associate scientists, setting technical standards, and partnering with computational and engineering colleagues to scale data generation.
Responsibilities
- Independently design, execute, and own phage display campaigns from library through panning and hit validation.
- Develop and optimize selection strategies for challenging targets, including QC and effective use of antigens across formats.
- Develop and apply library-scale approaches to measuring binder properties, and help adapt assays to higher-throughput, automated formats.
- Partner with computational and ML colleagues to generate, structure, and QC data at scale for model training.
- Mentor associate scientists and contribute to technical standards within the group.
Qualifications
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Protein Engineering, or related field, with 2–4 years of relevant industry experience.
- Significant hands-on expertise in antibody/protein discovery by phage display — library design, panning/selection, and hit validation.
- Hands-on flow cytometry (FACS) experience, including data interpretation and gating strategy.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail and rigorous documentation.
- Strong written and verbal communication; able to present complex science to technical and non-technical audiences.
Nice to Have
- Strong molecular biology / library construction skills (cloning, mutagenesis, assembly).
- Experience with membrane-protein targets (e.g., GPCRs) in cell-based or recombinant formats.
- Label-free affinity characterization (SPR, BLI/Octet).
- Alternative display formats (yeast, mammalian, ribosome/mRNA).
- Lab automation (Hamilton, Tecan, or similar) and/or scripting for large-dataset analysis (Python, R).
- Mammalian cell culture.
Compensation
Annual
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $124,000 to $155,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience.
Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end.
TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Xaira Therapeutics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias or employees. Xaira Therapeutics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
How we rate this
Scientist II, Antibody Discovery (Phage Display) at Xaira Therapeutics rates 60 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Works on AI (AI Level 3 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Works on AI. The daily work is on AI products, without building the model.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where phage display was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where protein biochemistry was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where antibody discovery was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where assay development was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Python in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Phage Display, Protein Biochemistry, Antibody Discovery, Assay Development, and Python. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
- Show where AI is part of your daily process, not a one-off project. This role expects it to be a running habit.
Want an expert to read your CV for this job?
Free. Send your CV and the role you want next. We reply by email within 2 to 4 business days.
Get new AI jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher) by email
One email a week with the new AI jobs (Works on AI ●●●○ or higher), each rated for how much AI is in the work. No recruiter spam, unsubscribe in one click.
Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe in one click.
Similar roles
Other roles that work on AI, at other companies.
What kind of AI work fits you?
Answer 12 practical questions in about three minutes. Get a simple profile, the work it points to, and live roles to explore next.
Find my next step