Lead Scientist, Analytics

About the Company

Helaina is a cutting‑edge nutrition biotech company creating nutrients of the future. Leveraging a world‑class team, Helaina develops breakthrough bioactive protein ingredients designed to improve health for everyone. Inspired by breast milk—a unique substance that is both food and medicine—the company’s vision is to build a nutrient platform that powers the future of consumer health. Helaina’s first ingredient, Effera™, is an identical replica of human lactoferrin, a “holy grail” molecule that supports iron absorption, women’s health, immunity, cognitive function, and inflammation reduction for sports recovery and longevity.

About the Role

This full‑time, on‑site, lab‑based position is based in Helaina’s NYC office. You will contribute directly to Helaina’s milestones by designing, performing, and troubleshooting experiments for the Analytics team while leading the team’s day‑to‑day delivery. All candidates must be able to work on‑site at the NYC office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and validation of analytical methods for characterization of recombinant proteins and food ingredients, including sample preparation and physicochemical analysis of lactoferrin and other proteins by HPLC, LC‑MS, and SDS‑PAGE.
• Provide analytical support to R&D on strain engineering and process development for expression and production of recombinant proteins.
• Support product characterization across food applications to address client requests from the commercial team.
• Own daily operation and maintenance of major equipment, including (U)HPLC and mass‑spectrometry systems.
• Perform method development, transfer, validation, and operations—including release and stability studies—for food ingredients and finished products.
• Collaborate with external resources such as CROs and CMOs/CDMOs to advance company objectives and milestones.
• Provide technical support for regulatory filings, health‑authority inquiries, change control, and quality impact assessments.
• Analyze, interpret, and present data to internal and external audiences.
• Own project planning and execution at the team level, proactively escalating risks, enforcing quality and process standards, and developing the analytics team.

Qualifications

• PhD, MS, or BS in analytical chemistry, analytical biochemistry, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or a related scientific discipline, with 10+ years of in‑lab experience in a biotech or academic setting.
• Deep knowledge of analytical techniques for protein purification and analysis, such as chromatography (RP, IEX, SEC, and HILIC).
• Extensive expertise in mass‑spectrometry characterization of proteins, including intact protein measurement, peptide mapping, glycosylation, and other post‑translational‑modification analyses.
• Experience developing and validating proteomics and metabolomics workflows.
• Strong ability to analyze and communicate complex mass‑spectrometry data (experience with Skyline, Spectronaut, MaxQuant, and UniDec preferred).
• Solid working knowledge of analytical method development, validation, transfer, and root‑cause analysis.
• Effective communicator within collaborative scientific teams and skilled at translating science for non‑technical audiences.
• Energetic, creative, and personally motivated by the future of food and/or biological products.
• Knowledge of spectroscopy (UV, fluorescence, CD) and SDS‑PAGE/western blotting is a plus.
• Bonus points for prior applied experience with recombinant‑protein purification and analysis, and for publications in peer‑reviewed journals, patents, SOPs, and/or regulatory filings.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Short and long‑term disability insurance
• 401(k) match up to 3%
• Unlimited vacation days, including an all‑company holiday between Christmas and New Year
• Paid parental leave for both parents plus a flexible return‑to‑work program
• Commuter benefits

Compensation

Market‑competitive yearly cash base of $110,000 – $160,000 plus equity.