Strain Developer

AI + Biology for sustainable ingredients Join SilicoLife, a cutting-edge biotechnology company on a mission to harness the power of computational biology to sustainably produce valuable compounds through fermentation. With over a decade of expertise and proprietary technologies, SilicoLife has been at the forefront of biotechnology innovation and is now poised to become a product-focused company in the high-growth supplements market.

We are seeking a highly motivated, proactive, and collaborative full-time Strain Developer to engineer, optimize and characterize high-performing microbial strains to enhance productivity and drive biotechnological innovation. The ideal candidate combines a strong scientific foundation with creativity and a results-oriented mindset and will ensure the smooth and efficient running of the strain engineering laboratory.

What’s the job?

• Work as part of our strain engineering team to deliver high-quality results in cell factory design and implementation projects using aerobic microbial host platforms (prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic) for new molecules.
• Establish and optimize transformation methodologies, including validation of genetic tools.
• Apply modular cloning and genome editing methods (e.g., CRISPR) to rapidly construct and test engineered strains.
• Integrate biosynthetic pathways and assess functional expression in target hosts.
• Collaborate closely with Bioanalysis, Strain Engineering, and Analytics to ensure a rapid transition of strains into process development.
• Document and communicate results clearly through lab notebooks, technical reports, and presentations.
• Develop suitable cultivation assays and analytical methods to assess the performance of the engineered strains.
• Ensure timely and efficient completion of projects while delivering exceptional results.

Requirements

• Education: Master or PhD’s degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., Biology, Genetic, Biological Engineering).
• Experience: At least 2 years of hands-on experience working in a molecular biology laboratory or similar scientific setting.
• Skills: Strong background in molecular biology and bioprocess engineering. Effective organizational skills, with the ability to participate in multiple projects simultaneously.
• Teamwork: Able to work independently while thriving as a member of multidisciplinary, project-oriented teams.
• Communication: Good communication skills with both scientific and non-scientific staff.
• Language: Fluency in Portuguese and English, spoken and written.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Your Profile:
• Laboratory techniques include cultivation of microbial cultures in both solid and liquid media (e.g., shake flasks), SDS-PAGE, PCR, genomic and plasmid DNA isolation, proficiency with modern molecular biology tools (eg: CRISPR/Cas9).
• Hands-on experience in microbial strain engineering, including transformation, pathway integration, or gene expression optimization.
• Develop, conduct and optimize strain characterization at lab scale (shake flask) to assess production yields, growth rates, and other relevant parameters in production strains.
• Experience with both prokaryotic and microbial eukaryotic organisms, with a basic knowledge of yeast and bacterial metabolism (model chassis).
• Skills in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology technologies and previous work experience in automation are a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• Health insurance and flexible benefits
• Opportunity to work with a world-class team of experts in computer science, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, systems biology, molecular biology, and bioprocess engineering
• Work/life balance with a flexible schedule and two extra vacation days over the 22 legally mandated
• Exciting projects that combine world-class science with disruptive business models to create sustainable and economically viable solutions addressing global challenges
• Company retreats, internal talks
• An inclusive and supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion and provides equal opportunities for all employees

Join SilicoLife and be part of something extraordinary. Help us bring our cutting-edge technology to market and make a positive impact in the world.

SilicoLife is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We are dedicated to creating a workplace culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion and provides equal opportunities for all employees.