Scientist, Protein Testing

Arzeda is solving some of today's hardest and most meaningful problems, from food and nutrition to sustainable materials and homecare, by designing proteins that have the limitless potential to change everyone's daily life. Our team has developed a proven technology platform that merges computational protein design, machine learning, and synthetic biology tools to produce proteins, enzymes, and bio-based processes more efficiently than Mother Nature.

A deep tech, mission-driven company, we are passionate about our mission to design novel proteins and products that enhance our lives and protect our planet. At Arzeda, we value a strong desire to learn, innovate, and be continuously challenged.

We are seeking a detail-oriented Scientist to join our highly collaborative Protein Testing team. You'll play a critical role in Arzeda's design-test cycle by taking enzymatic assays from early concept and proof-of-concept work into mature, reliable, higher-throughput workflows that directly inform scientific decisions and support partner-facing programs. Using your knowledge of enzymology, analytical biochemistry, and assay development and troubleshooting, you'll generate the decision-quality data that keeps our programs moving.

This role is roughly 75% lab work and 25% data analysis, reporting, and collaboration, and reports directly to the team lead.

This is an onsite role based at Arzeda in Seattle, Washington. Nestled among the historic and artistic neighborhoods of Ballard, Fremont, and Queen Anne, you'll find the right balance of activities and relaxation. Whether you're indulging your inner foodie at one of many unique restaurants, drinking a craft beverage after a day at the beach, or enjoying a picturesque walk through the Sunday Market, you'll be proud to call Seattle your home.

• Design, develop, and mature enzymatic assays end to end, from ideation and proof-of-concept through reliable, repeatable, higher-throughput use.
• Improve assay sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, throughput, and week-to-week consistency over time.
• Run plate-reader assays (absorbance and fluorescence) and apply adjacent characterization methods such as SDS-PAGE, Lab Chip, and protein quantification.
• Generate proof-of-concept data and present clear trade-offs so the team can choose the best path forward.
• Perform protein expression and purification as needed to support testing workflows (secondary focus, plate-based for FPLC).
• Collaborate with upstream teams (Protein Design, Strain Design, Genetic Design-Build) and analytical specialists (HPLC / LC-MS, Fermentation) for efficient data exchange and material transfer.
• Communicate progress consistently with project managers, scientific partners, and your manager, and help develop and refine laboratory SOPs.

• PhD in a relevant field + ~1 year of industry experience, or Master's/Bachelor's + ~6 years of relevant experience. Strong internship, post-doc or equivalent industry-like experience may count.
• Demonstrated ability to build enzymatic assays from scratch or meaningfully redesign them, not just run established methods.
• Breadth across protein testing and characterization: plate-reader assays (absorbance/fluorescence), SDS-PAGE, Lab Chip, protein quantification.
• Comfort working with (not necessarily owning) HPLC / mass spec analytical handoffs and collaborating with specialists.
• Experience evaluating data sets, building reports, and presenting findings.
• Adaptable to changing plans as needed to meet goals.
• Ability to work onsite, Monday – Friday with some occasional weekend work.
• A proactive communicator and pragmatic experimentalist who thrives in a fast-moving, cross-functional, deadline-driven environment.

• Cell-free…