About the RoleYou will make and characterize peptide candidates that move directly into biological testing. You will execute the full synthesis workflow-from resin loading through purification, quality control, and sample handoff-while troubleshooting failures and contributing observations that improve the next design cycle. This is a hands-on role for someone who wants close ownership of the molecules they produce.
Responsibilities- Execute end-to-end peptide synthesis workflows, including resin loading, coupling and deprotection cycles, cleavage, purification, analytical characterization, and sample preparation.
- Run microwave-assisted solid-phase peptide synthesis and support routine synthesizer maintenance.
- Troubleshoot failed couplings, low crude purity, side products, cleavage issues, and instrument downtime.
- Purify and characterize candidates using analytical HPLC, prep HPLC, LC-MS, and related methods.
- Record identity, purity, yield, analytical traces, and batch-level quality-control data before handoff.
- Prepare compounds for in vitro and in vivo testing and maintain accurate experimental records.
- Share synthesis feasibility, purity, yield, stability, and analytical observations that inform what the team designs and makes next.
Ideal Qualifications- Hands-on chemistry experience and strong experimental discipline; your education path matters less than your ability to learn quickly and produce high-quality results.
- Interest in owning synthesis end to end: running reactions, purifying and characterizing compounds, documenting results, and preparing material for testing.
- A creative, fast, and rigorous approach to experimental problem-solving.
- Interest in staying close to biological readouts and understanding how potency and efficacy data inform the next design cycle.
- High agency when an instrument breaks, a synthesis fails, results look unusual, or a handoff is unclear.
- Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis, HPLC, prep HPLC, or LC-MS is valuable, but we can teach specific workflows.
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 ProcessOur 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 TodayCurious but not sure? Apply anyway. It takes 5 minutes, and you do not need to be actively job searching to start a conversation.
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.
And if someone exceptional comes to mind, send them our way here. We read every referral carefully, and if your referral joins Capable, we'll send you a thank-you bonus.
