R&D Project Lead, Enzyme Discovery and Engineering

Pando is an AI-driven synthetic biology company revolutionizing enzyme engineering for the pharmaceutical manufacturing and life science tools. Our ultra-high-throughput screening platform screens 1000-fold more enzymes 75% faster and 80% cheaper than traditional methods. This empowers our AI models to efficiently optimize enzymes across multiple properties, delivering high-performing, industrial-grade enzymes that create and capture new market value.

We are a small, fast-moving team, so this role is not a traditional project manager role. We are looking for someone who can lead scientific execution, manage people and projects, make experimental decisions, and turn complex data into the next clear action. You will work closely with the leadership team, scientists to move programs forward.

In this role, you will lead day-to-day scientific planning across enzyme discovery and engineering projects, turning project goals into clear milestones, experiments, and decisions. You will guide scientists on experimental strategy, review high-risk plans, interpret results, and help decide next steps. You will also manage and mentor direct reports, support assay development, protein expression/purification, data analysis, and work with the computational team to connect AI outputs with wet-lab strategy.

The role will also support customer-facing technical scoping, SOWs, grant proposals, and scientific presentations.

• PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, chemical biology, synthetic biology, microbiology, enzymology, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of post-PhD industry experience.
• At least 2 years of project management experience with direct reports.
• Deep hands-on molecular biology experience. This means more than knowing PCR or cloning from classwork. You should be comfortable designing, troubleshooting, and interpreting complex molecular biology workflows.
• Strong wet-lab background with extensive hands-on experience.
• Extensive experience developing, optimizing, and validating biochemical or molecular assays.
• Experience with protein expression and purification.
• Experience with NGS, nanopore sequencing, RCA, WGA, or nucleic acid manufacturing workflows.
• Experience with qPCR, plate-reader assays, enzyme kinetics, protein QC, or fidelity assays.
• Strong data analysis skills and comfort working with complex experimental datasets.
• Working knowledge of bioinformatics or analytical tools relevant to enzyme engineering, sequencing, protein analysis, assay analysis, or high-throughput screening.
• Ability to make scientific tradeoffs under uncertainty and drive projects forward without waiting for perfect information.
• Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical decisions clearly to scientists, leadership, customers, and partners.

• Experience with strain engineering, metabolic pathway engineering, or microbial expression systems.
• Experience working with AI/ML teams, bioinformatics teams, or software tools for experimental design and analysis.
• Experience contributing to customer-facing technical proposals, SOWs, grant proposals, or scientific decks.
• Competitive compensation.
• 401(k) program
• A dynamic early-stage work environment and highly interdisciplinary, talented, and collaborative team.
• Professional growth opportunities through mentoring, training, immersion in cross-functional projects, and opportunities to learn and try new things.

• Be at the cutting edge of AI-driven enzyme discovery and engineering.
• Actually making a product to create value.
• A collaborative and dynamic environment focused on scientific innovation.
• Simply fun.

If you're passionate about revolutionizing enzyme-driven biocatalysis, we'd love to hear from you!

It is the policy of Pando Bioscience, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, pregnancy, marital status, age, sexual orientation, and military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

It also prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.

Pando does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from potential candidates. Any resumes submitted by a staffing agency in the absence of a current executed contract will automatically become Pando’s property and no recruiting fees or other obligations will be owed in the event of a potential hiring.