About the job

Job title: Scientist/Senior Scientist, High-throughput assay development

Location: Irvine, CA

Company Summary:

Aureka Biotechnologies is an AI-driven biotech startup integrating high-throughput biology with generative AI to discover and develop antibody therapeutics with exceptional speed and precision. Through multiple pharma collaborations, our platform has been validated to deliver best-in-class, differentiated antibodies that are difficult to identify using traditional discovery methods.

Position Summary:

Aureka Biotechnologies is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Scientist or Senior Scientist to join our High-throughput Assay Development Team. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, AI-enabled biotherapeutics company dedicated to rapidly generating next-generation biologics in Immunology & Inflammation (I&I), metabolic, and fibrotic diseases.

The successful candidate will design, develop, and execute biochemical, cell-based, and in vivo translational assays in a scalable manner to characterize antibody function, signaling, and efficacy. The candidate would also engage in transcriptomic analysis for target validation and characterization on the biological function of the lead antibody candidates. This individual will work closely with interdisciplinary teams to provide critical functional and mechanistic insights that drive Aureka’s antibody discovery programs.

This is a bench-facing, on-site position based in Irvine, CA, offering high visibility and the opportunity to directly influence therapeutic discovery programs. The final title and level will be determined based on experience.

Key Responsibilities

· Design, optimize, and execute high-throughput cell-based functional assays, including reporter assays, cytokine release, proliferation, and immune activation assays.

· Maintain and engineer mammalian cell lines (adherent and suspension) for transient and stable expression systems.

· Process human PBMC or patient samples for biomarkers and efficacy evaluation.

· Prepare, execute, and analyze bulk and single-cell transcriptomic analysis from primary cell samples for target validation and cell state characterization.

· Support high-throughput screening campaigns by establishing robust, automation-ready workflows.

· Collaborate across biology and computational teams to integrate assay data into Aureka’s AI-driven discovery pipeline.

· Analyze, interpret, and present experimental results in project meetings and internal reviews.

· Maintain accurate experimental documentation in ELN and ensure compliance with data integrity best practices.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

· M.S. or Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.

· For Scientist: M.S. with 3–5 years of relevant industry experience. Ph.D with 1-2 years of relevant industry experience

· For Senior Scientist: M.S. with 5–7 years of relevant industry experience. Ph.D with 3-4 years of relevant industry experience

· Proven expertise in antibiotics-free mammalian cell culture and cell-based functional assays and experienced with handling human primary cells in BSL2 environments.

· Expertise in biochemical (multiplexed ELISA) and flow cytometry assay (12+ color flow cytometry panel) design, optimization, and execution,

· Expertise in execution of bulk and single-cell RNAseq through initial sample preparation, library preparation, through sequencing.

· Strong data analysis and troubleshooting skills; proficiency with GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, or equivalent analysis/statistics tools.

· Excellent attention to detail, organization, and ability to design/optimize/manage multiple experiments in parallel.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

· Expertise on antibody or therapeutic protein characterization (agonism, antagonism, Fc effector, checkpoint signaling, and cytokine signaling).

· Expertise on working on microfluidics devices and associated assay development

· Expertise on assay automation or 384-well miniaturization.

· Expertise on bioinformatics analysis on bulk and single-cell transcriptomics

Compensation:

Competitive and commensurate with experience, including salary, equity, and benefits—aligned with the company’s long-term success.

Why join us:

· Competitive compensation, comprehensive healthcare coverage, equity participation, family leave, paid time off, and 401(k) retirement plan.

· A fast-growing, innovation-driven work environment at the intersection of biology, automation, and AI.

· High-impact, collaborative culture where ideas translate directly into therapeutic candidates.

· Professional growth opportunities through mentorship, exposure to full discovery pipelines, and cross-functional project involvement.