RA-II/Sr. Research Associate Protein Engineering

About the role

SystImmune is a leading and well-funded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company located in Redmond, WA and Princeton, NJ. It specializes in developing innovative cancer treatments using its established drug development platforms, focusing on bi-specific, multi-specific antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate or Senior Research Associate or Associate Scientist to join our Protein Engineering team. This role is ideal for a protein biochemistry-focused scientist who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is passionate about therapeutic antibody development.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily protein purification workflows using FPLC ÄKTA systems (affinity, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography)
• Develop and support scalable, robust purification processes for antibody and recombinant protein constructs
• Operate and maintain FPLC and HPLC/UPLC systems with high efficiency and data integrity
• Perform analytical characterization of purified proteins, including SEC-based purity and aggregation assessments
• Support routine transient transfections of CHO cells for mammalian protein expression
• Assist in cell culture maintenance and harvest processing for downstream purification
• Conduct biochemical and biophysical characterization to support developability assessments
• Maintain detailed experimental records in electronic lab notebooks
• Collaborate closely with research scientists to prioritize workflows, troubleshoot challenges, and meet program timelines
• Contribute to continuous improvement of purification and analytical workflows to enhance throughput and quality

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Protein Sciences, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Research Associate II requires bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of industry experience
• Senior Research Associate requires bachelor’s degree with 5+ years or master’s degree with 3+ years of industry experience
• Must have 3+ years of hands-on industry experience in protein purification
• Strong background in protein biochemistry and chromatographic techniques
• Demonstrated experience with FPLC ÄKTA purification systems
• Experience operating HPLC/UPLC systems, specifically size exclusion chromatography (SEC)
• Familiarity with affinity, ion exchange, and size exclusion chromatography methods
• Basic understanding of mammalian cell culture techniques
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Preferred Skills

• Previous experience working with therapeutic antibodies or antibody fragments
• Experience with CHO cell culture and transient transfection workflows
• Experience with mammalian expression systems
• Exposure to biophysical characterization techniques relevant to protein developability

Schedule

This position follows a Thursday through Monday schedule, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Tuesday and Wednesday are regular days off.

Pay

The expected base salary range for this position is $70,000 – $90,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to a candidate’s level qualifications, experience, and skills. While most offers typically fall within the low to mid-point of the range, we may extend an offer toward the higher end for exceptional candidates whose background and expertise exceeds the requirements of the role.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee premiums for medical/dental/vision
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with a 50% company match of up to 3% and a vesting schedule of only 5 years
• 15 PTO days per year, sick leave, plus 11 paid holidays