Zyphore - Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences & Engineering

About Raven:
We are Raven, RA Capital’s healthcare incubator. From discovery to delivery, whether we incubate, accelerate or rejuvenate, Raven’s goal is to turn scientific breakthroughs into transformative therapies and get them quickly, safely and efficiently to the patients that need them most. Raven’s experienced scientists, operators, and healthcare innovators have deep sector expertise across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and services. They have brought hundreds of therapeutics into development, managed hospital systems, optimized clinical trials and navigated payor and regulatory systems to deliver patient impact - and they are ready to work with you.

About RA Capital:
Founded in 2004, RA Capital Management is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare, life sciences, and planetary health companies. RA Capital creates and funds innovative companies, from private seed rounds to public follow-on financings, allowing management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization and beyond. RA Capital's knowledge engine is guided by our Tech Atlas internal research division, and Raven, RA Capital’s company building team, offers entrepreneurs and innovators a collaborative and comprehensive platform to explore the novel and the re-imagined. RA Capital has more than 150 employees and over $10 billion in assets under management.

About Zyphore

Zyphore is a cutting-edge biotechnology company focused on developing enzyme-based therapeutics to address diseases of metabolism and inflammation. By leveraging proprietary enzyme engineering, half-life extension (HLE), and immunogenicity shielding technologies, Zyphore aims to revolutionize enzyme-based therapeutics and provide best-in-class (BIC) therapies for patients.

Position Overview
The Principal Scientist, Protein Sciences + Engineering will lead the development and optimization of Zyphore’s Protein Engineering and Half-Life Extension (HLE) strategies to enhance enzyme stability, activity, and immune shielding. This role will be an employee of Zyphore, a Raven / RA Capital portfolio company. This role will lead efforts in protein engineering, applying molecular biology, structural biology, and computational tools to design and optimize therapeutic proteins with enhanced function, stability, and developability, with a proven ability to lead cross-functional scientific teams. You will drive scientific innovation while collaborating closely with colleagues in discovery biology, immunology, and translational science.

This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role ideal for a protein scientist passionate about creating biologics that make a difference for patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, engineer, and optimize therapeutic proteins (e.g., enzymes, fusion proteins, cytokines, antibodies) for function, stability, manufacturability, and reduced immunogenicity.
• Apply rational design, directed evolution, display technologies (phage, yeast, or mammalian), and/or AI-guided approaches to protein optimization.
• Guide the selection and development of expression systems and purification strategies.
• Protein expression, purification and characterization to support preclinical studies.
• Characterize biophysical and biochemical properties of engineered proteins, including binding affinity, aggregation, thermal stability, and solubility.
• Develop and perform plate-based enzymatic kinetics, activity, and protein stability assays.
• Execute molecular cloning and construct variant libraries.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align protein design with biological function, assay development, and downstream translational goals.
• Manage external partnerships with CROs, consultants, or academic labs as needed.
• Maintain detailed electronic lab notebooks and communicate findings effectively to the scientific team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members and external partners to drive programs aligned with strategic goals.
• Contribute to intellectual property strategy and write technical sections for patents and regulatory documents.
• Mentor junior scientists and help build a culture of scientific excellence and collaboration.

Qualifications

• PhD in Protein Engineering, Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• 7+ years of industry experience in therapeutic protein design and optimization.
• Deep expertise in protein expression, purification, characterization, and engineering strategies.
• Proficiency with protein modeling tools, structural data interpretation, or computational design platforms.
• Well versed in protein engineering techniques including rational and semi-rational mutagenesis, computational design.
• Strong experience in protein library screening; proficiency in plate-based high-throughput assay development and automation is highly preferred.
• Proficient in molecular biology techniques, including PCR, mutagenesis, cloning, transformation, transfection.
• Strong data analysis and communication skills, with the ability to present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with internal cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Enthusiastic about learning new technologies and scientific advancements.
• Adaptable to a fast-paced environment and capable of managing diverse tasks.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly and concisely.
• Track record of innovation and scientific contributions (e.g., publications, patents, IND support).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in early-stage biotech or platform technology development.
• Familiarity with CMC considerations and developability assessments.
• Familiarity with directed evolution and experience with yeast and phage display methods is a plus.
• Experience with bioconjugation and biopolymer strategy & execution.
• Understanding of immunogenicity and mitigation strategies.
• Experience in high-throughput assay development and process automation.

What We Will Offer You:

• Empowerment.  At Raven, we empower you to make a real impact. From discovery to delivery, whether we incubate, accelerate or rejuvenate, Raven’s goal is to turn scientific and technological breakthroughs into transformative therapies and services and get them quickly, safely and efficiently to the patients that need them most. We've built Raven portfolio companies, platforms, and capabilities to overcome the barriers and bottlenecks that slow healthcare innovation, and you'll be a key part of accelerating the path-to-patient with us.
• Resources.  We’ll offer you the resources you need to be successful. We are company building with RA Capital, with access to the proprietary TechAtlas research team to precision-map solutions to opportunities and access to the Investment Teams for market insight. Integration with RA Capital enables you to be part of a team that’s shaping the future.
• Expertise. Raven’s experienced scientists, operators, and healthcare innovators have deep sector expertise across therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and services. They have brought hundreds of therapeutics into development, managed hospital systems, optimized clinical trials and navigated payor and regulatory systems to deliver patient impact - and they are ready to work with you.
• Growth. Professional growth opportunities through mentoring, training, immersion in cross-functional projects, and access to resources such as LinkedIn Learning and RA University to support continuous learning and skill development.
• Best in class benefits. Comprehensive and competitive medical, dental and vision coverage. Life and disability coverage. Family leave, unlimited PTO, employee assistance program, and a 401k retirement plan with company matching. We also provide flexible work arrangements, with company lunches available Monday through Thursday for those who prefer to work in the office.
• Collaborative Culture. A vibrant work environment with an opportunity to learn from a team of high-caliber scientific and business leaders, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and growth.  Our team is innovative, helpful and open.  You’ll learn a ton as you contribute to the future of healthcare.
• AI Tools and Resources.  RA Capital is looking for people who are proactive about using AI where possible, looking for new tools and even creating new tools; AI is transforming all our work and we need AI-forward people to ensure that we are as effective in our work as a new tool like AI can allow us to be.  We want everyone to have experience using AI and be eager in creatively experimenting with ways to incorporate it into their work to be more efficient and effective. Please be sure to speak to this in your coverletter and interview