Profluent

Profluent

Senior Scientific Program Manager, ML - Guided Protein Design Evaluation

Emeryville, California, United States; Hybrid (2-3 days on-site) · Senior

Work authorization required$131k-$246kDetected 30 days ago
Machine LearningSparkData EngineeringJiraConfluenceForecastingOperations ManagementCadenceBioinformaticsCRISPRMolecular BiologyNGSLeadershipCommunication

About the role

  • MDE runs campaigns across internal labs and external CROs, and its operating tempo depends on tight program execution, well-run vendor relationships, and clean documentation.
  • You will keep the program documented, visible, and on schedule, so the scientific team can focus on the science.
  • You will work closely with scientific stakeholders and need to be fluent enough in the language of assays, CROs, and data pipelines to ask sharp questions and push back when timelines or scope slip.

Responsibilities

  • Run MDE campaigns end-to-end as program manager: maintain campaign charters, Jira boards, timelines, meeting cadence, and post-campaign readouts across ML, Biology, and Bioinformatics
  • Own CRO sourcing: identify vendors with suitable platforms for each campaign, run structured evaluations on cost, turnaround time, and quality, and make clear, documented recommendations
  • Lead commercial negotiations with CROs for pricing, scope, TAT, T&C and coordinate contracting (CDA, T&C, MSA, SOWs, POs) with internal Legal and BD
  • Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for CRO partners once engagements are active
  • manage scope changes, data delivery, and issue escalation
  • Build and maintain a CRO landscape view - which vendors we have worked with, on what, with what outcomes, and which are candidates for future campaigns
  • Partner with Finance and BD on budget forecasting and spend tracking for external MDE work
  • Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for CRO partners once engagements are active; manage scope changes, data delivery, and issue escalation
  • Profluent is an AI-first protein design company.
  • maintain campaign charters, Jira boards, timelines, meeting cadence, and post-campaign readouts across ML, Biology, and Bioinformatics

Requirements

  • 3+ years of program, project, or operations management experience in biotech, pharma services, or a closely related technical environment
  • Prior experience managing CRO relationships in protein production, biochemical/biophysical assays, NGS-based screens, or gene editing workflows
  • PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, Biophysics, Immunology, or a closely related field; or MS with equivalent industry experience
  • Demonstrated experience sourcing, evaluating, and negotiating with CROs or specialty service vendors, including comparing quotes and negotiating pricing and TAT
  • Hands-on experience managing contracting workflows (CDA, MSA, SOW, PO) in partnership with Legal and BD teams
  • Strong written communication and documentation - you produce clear charters, status updates, and decision records that stakeholders actually read

Skills

  • Enough scientific literacy to read an assay protocol or quote, understand what is being offered, and ask the right follow-up questions
  • Track record of running multiple complex workstreams in parallel and holding them to timelines without micromanaging the technical experts
  • Experience running cross-functional programs that span ML/computational and wet-lab teams
  • Background or degree in life sciences, bioengineering, or a related field
  • Experience standing up new programs (processes, templates, cadences) from scratch, not just running existing ones
  • Competitive compensation package with equity participation
  • Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
  • Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance
  • Professional development opportunities in a cutting-edge field at the intersection of AI and biology

Compensation

  • Competitive compensation package with equity participation

Benefits

  • Track program health metrics - cycle time, plan vs. actuals, CRO performance, data delivery against QC criteria - and surface bottlenecks early

Company info

  • Founded in 2022, we develop deep generative models to design and validate novel, functional proteins to revolutionize biomedicine.
  • Based in Emeryville, CA, we are backed by leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Insight Partners, Air Street Capital, AIX Ventures, and Convergent Ventures, and have raised over $150M to date.
  • We are expanding the ML Design Evaluation (MDE) program; the cross-functional program that runs dedicated, structured design campaigns to generate high-quality experimental data for Profluent's protein design models.
  • We are looking for an experienced program manager to own the operational and external-partnership side of MDE.

Equal opportunity

  • equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship.
  • Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.
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