AI Research Platform - Technical Lead at Chai Discovery

San Francisco, California, United States

Chai Discovery Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Expert & Leadership (9+ years), Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Artificial IntelligenceIndustries

Requirements

  • Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or related discipline
  • 5+ years post-Ph.D. research experience, including 2+ years guiding teams or mentoring junior scientists
  • Strong publication record in top ML or computational-bio venues
  • Expert in deep-learning frameworks and large-scale training pipelines
  • Hands-on experience with at least one of: structure prediction (proteins or complexes), generative protein/antibody design, or multi-objective lead optimization
  • Proven ability to translate open-ended research ideas into shippable code, benchmarks, and documentation
  • Comfortable partnering with wet-lab, platform, and business-development teams to align science with commercial milestones
  • Strong communication skills, able to present technical roadmaps to execs, investors, and external collaborators
  • Thrive in a fast-moving environment where the first answer is rarely the final one
  • Motivated by turning breakthrough research into products that impact real therapeutic programs

Responsibilities

  • Shape the core research engine of Chai
  • Lead a small team of scientist-engineers
  • Drive AI research in one or more of: structure prediction, protein design, and lead optimization
  • Translate computational innovations into practical applications
  • Guide the team to tackle complex biological problems

Skills

Machine Learning
Deep Learning
Protein Structure Prediction
Protein Design
Lead Optimization
Protein Language Models
Folding Algorithms
Generative AI
Drug Discovery

Chai Discovery

Develops AI models for molecular predictions

About Chai Discovery

Chai Discovery develops AI foundation models that focus on predicting and reprogramming interactions between biochemical molecules, which are crucial for life. Their main product, Chai 1, is a multimodal model that can predict various molecular structures, such as proteins, small molecules, DNA, RNA, and covalent modifications. This model is available for free through a web interface, making it accessible for both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies, especially in the field of drug discovery. Unlike many competitors, Chai Discovery emphasizes a user-friendly platform that allows clients to easily integrate AI into their research and development processes. The company's goal is to enhance the efficiency of molecular research and drug discovery by providing powerful AI tools that can accelerate scientific advancements.

None, CaliforniaHeadquarters
N/AYear Founded
$29.2MTotal Funding
SEEDCompany Stage
AI & Machine Learning, BiotechnologyIndustries

Benefits

Health Insurance
Company Equity
Professional Development Budget
Wellness Program

Risks

Increased competition from well-funded AI drug discovery startups threatens market position.
Rapid technological advancements may render current models obsolete without updates.
Dependence on commercial licensing makes revenue vulnerable to industry trend shifts.

Differentiation

Chai Discovery offers a free web-accessible AI model for molecular structure prediction.
Chai 1 excels in predicting proteins, small molecules, DNA, RNA, and covalent modifications.
The company serves both academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies with its AI platform.

Upsides

Recent $30 million investment boosts Chai Discovery's growth and development potential.
Growing demand for AI in drug discovery enhances Chai Discovery's market opportunities.
Partnerships with pharmaceutical companies can accelerate R&D processes using Chai 1.

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