Principal Scientist, Therapeutic Discovery

Capable Lab

$150K — $180K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience leading drug discovery or therapeutic programs with a path to clinical application.
  • Proven ability to design and independently execute scientific research resulting in publications, patents, or grants.
  • Research interests include sleep, cognition, reproductive health, disease resistance, recovery, and aging.
  • Demonstrated sound scientific judgment and critical evaluation of literature for actionable research directions.
  • Proactive and detail-oriented, upholding high scientific standards while efficiently advancing projects.

Responsibilities

  • Lead therapeutic research programs from early concept to validation in various health-related areas.
  • Develop scientifically rigorous research proposals addressing key human health issues.
  • Transform research concepts into actionable plans with defined targets and progression criteria.
  • Select and implement optimal experimental modalities across diverse platforms.
  • Oversee the entire research lifecycle, collaborating effectively with scientific teams.
  • Recruit and manage interdisciplinary teams and oversee research operations.

Benefits

  • Generous equity options in addition to the salary.
  • $500+ monthly wellness budget for training and health-related tools.
  • Comprehensive healthcare coverage, with 100% of the base policy paid by the company.
  • Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans for financial security.
  • Daily healthy team dinners provided.
  • Support for visa sponsorship for international candidates.
Full Job Description
What You'll Do
  • Lead therapeutic research programs from conceptualization through early validation in areas such as contraception, stress resilience, cognition, exercise mimetics, recovery, and sleep.
  • Develop rigorous, scientifically grounded research proposals that address crucial questions in human health and capability.
  • Convert research concepts into executable plans by identifying targets, mechanisms, modalities, assay strategies, biomarkers, and establishing clear progression criteria, budgets, and timelines.
  • Select optimal experimental modalities including RNA, small molecules, peptides, polymers, or biologics-related platforms.
  • Execute all stages of the research lifecycle: hypothesis development, literature review, experimental design and execution, data analysis, and program evaluation, collaborating closely with scientific colleagues.
  • Assemble and manage interdisciplinary teams, identify advisors and collaborators, source models and equipment, and oversee research operations.
  • Maintain direct involvement with experimental data and program strategy. Capable Labs provides significant funding for projects showing strong foundational evidence.
Who You Are
  • You have a strong academic record and have led or significantly contributed to drug discovery or therapeutic programs progressing towards clinical application.
  • You have independently designed and executed scientific research, demonstrating initiative and yielding outcomes such as publications, patents, or funded grants.
  • Your research interests span impactful biomedical topics including sleep, cognition, reproductive health, disease resistance, recovery, aging, and the biological determinants of health.
  • You demonstrate sound scientific judgment, critically evaluate literature and mechanisms, and define actionable research paths with precision.
  • You are proactive, exacting, analytical, and maintain high scientific standards aligned with academic rigor while advancing projects efficiently and decisively.


Pay & Benefits
  • In addition to the posted salary range, we offer generous equity options.
  • Compensation will depend on the skills, experience, and scope of impact you bring. If your background, experience, or compensation needs fall outside this range, we are still open to a conversation based on the scope and impact you could bring.
  • $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools that help you perform at your best.
  • Healthcare: We offer a broad range of medical, dental, and vision coverage options, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.
  • You will also have access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans.
  • Healthy dinners with the team are provided daily.
  • We support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways. Our team is already international, with members from Canada, Pakistan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, China, India, and the United States.


Application Process

Our process is fast, transparent, and personal. We care about getting to know the person behind the application.
  • Initial application
  • First phone screen
  • Second phone screen
  • In-person work trial in San Francisco: designed to give both sides a realistic sense of working together. Get to know the founding team!


Apply Today

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Some of the best people do not map perfectly to a job description. If this sounds like a place where you could do important work, we would like to hear from you.

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