AI Research Platform - Technical Lead at Chai Discovery

San Francisco, California, United States

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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

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Machine LearningDeep LearningProtein Structure PredictionProtein DesignLead OptimizationProtein Language ModelsFolding AlgorithmsGenerative AIDrug Discovery

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary for this Technical Lead position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this a remote role, or is there a required location?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What qualifications and skills are required for this role?

Candidates need a Ph.D. in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or related field, 5+ years post-Ph.D. research experience including 2+ years guiding teams, a strong publication record, expertise in deep-learning frameworks and large-scale training pipelines, and hands-on experience in structure prediction, generative protein/antibody design, or multi-objective lead optimization.

What is the company culture like at Chai Discovery?

Chai Discovery features a fast-moving environment where the team obsesses over creating powerful AI models for antibody discovery, thrives on iterating quickly, and focuses on turning breakthrough research into products, led by top researchers from premier AI labs.

What makes a strong candidate for the Technical Lead role?

A strong candidate has rigorous research experience with a Ph.D. and 5+ years post-Ph.D., including team leadership, proven ability to translate research into shippable code, strong communication skills for collaborating with wet-lab and business teams, and a mindset to thrive in fast-paced iteration.

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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