Scientist / Senior Scientist

Rubi is ushering in an entirely new planet-positive era for manufacturing. Our vision is a world where human prosperity is planet-positive, and manufacturing is symbiotic with Earth. Our mission is to build the world’s most sustainable supply chains for the important materials we rely on; including textiles, building materials, food, packaging, and more.

Rubi decarbonizes supply chains, starting with the fashion industry. Inspired by how trees breathe in CO2, Rubi uses biochemical processes powered by enzymes at an industrial scale to “eat'' carbon emissions and make low-carbon, tree-free textiles for the fashion industry. Within the last year alone, Rubi’s game-changing technology has captured the interest of the scientific community, top investors, and the world’s most influential fashion brands. It has partnerships with global fashion brands and manufacturers and has been featured in Vogue Business and TechCrunch.

As Rubi Laboratories is growing, we are building our amazing team to cover all the scientific realms needed by our technology and currently we are looking to bring on a Scientist/Senior Scientist focused on enzymology, enzyme stabilization chemistry, and multi-enzyme pathway engineering. In this cross-disciplinary and cross-collaborative role, you will act as the company’s subject matter expert in enzymology, cofactor regeneration, and use your knowledge of enzymology to help Rubi create technology that will disrupt the textile industry as we know it. This position will report directly to a Principal Scientist on the team. Most importantly, your work will play a key impact for our product and how widely accessible this carbon-negative material is available to exciting, and well-known brands. You thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and are passionate about dedicating your craft to the betterment of the world.

Responsibilities* Lead specialized projects focused on enzymology, enzymatic cascades, and cofactor regeneration while partnering with a cross-disciplined team to advance projects.

• Self-direct your projects to achieve a high-level research goal informed by business needs. This will entail things like literature review, looking at emerging science from academic labs, coming up with new ideas for new systems that may not have been done before and bringing these ideas to life in lab-scale experiments.
• Spend a significant part of the time (80%) in the lab doing experiments and the other (20%) reading literature & collaborating with cross-functional teams, ideating new innovations, and strategizing your own projects using the data and information you find.
• Implement your ideas, distill key insights, make recommendations on technical roadmap, and trouble-shoot laboratory processes and protocols.
• Propose new experiments and projects while including rationale as to "why" this approach makes sense.
• Generate meaningful data through a thoughtful, well-designed, and well-executed experiment.
• Present your findings and conclusions at company-wide check-ins.
• Balance speed and quality, with a focus on tangible results.
• Maintain a flexible and positive mindset as required in a start-up environment where we are building a new product through new technology. Overcome obstacles that come up along the way.

Requirements* PhD in Biochemistry, Enzymology, Chemistry or a related field

• 4+ years of experience of post-doctoral or industry experience, with experience in biosynthetic cascade development, cofactor regeneration, and/or industrial biocatalysis.
• Prior industry experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, technology transfer, or scale up.
• Experience in driving dynamic research projects from start to finish. This includes tracking KPIs, determining timelines, and maintaining overall progression of projects.
• A track record of aligning strategy, resources, and prioritization with project goals.
• Excellent data presentation skills, both oral and written.
• Proven ability to work on a collaborative team in a scientific research environment and drive results.

Nice-to-Have* Experience or familiarity with enzyme immobilization.

• Experience working with both experimental and larger-scale systems
• Experience with flow reactors
• A passion for discovery, sustainability, and driving innovation.

Rubi Laboratories is dedicated to providing a supportive work environment for all our employees. We provide competitive salary, generous equity, and benefits in a rapidly growing venture-backed company with all the exciting career and growth opportunities that come with it.

• Compensation: $130,000 to $165,000 annually, actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and geographic location.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (100% coverage of monthly fees of base plan for our employees and their dependents)
• 401K with up to 6% company match
• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) and 27 Paid Company Holidays, including company-wide Winter break (1 week)
• Generous equity
• Free pantry breakfast options and snacks in-office
• Forkable meal service delivered to office with $12 meal credit, 5 days per week

We are excited to explore applicants with all different backgrounds so if you think you have the experience, please apply! Rubi Laboratories is dedicated to establishing a diverse employee base and especially encourages applicants from backgrounds most affected by the impacts of global climate change.

This position is located in our Alameda, CA headquarters and requires on-site presence to complete required work described. Rubi Laboratories is unable to offer relocation assistance at this time for this position.

Rubi Laboratories requires employees to be fully vaccinated, including a booster shot, against COVID-19 unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation. Proof of such vaccination will be required as part of the hiring process.

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. Rubi Labs may agree to sponsor an individual for an employment visa now or in the future if there is a shortage of individuals with particular skills for this job.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.