About Us:

Founded in 2017 by scientists from Harvard Medical School and UCSF, Autonomous Therapeutics is developing new classes of target-activated nucleic acid medicines from influenza to colon cancer.

Our platform is built on a simple idea: precision therapeutics that only activate in diseased cells and avoid healthy cells.

Our company has a growing team of 25 in-house PhD scientists and engineers spanning synthetic biology, immunology, chemical formulation, in vivo biology, and robotics.

About You:

We are seeking a rigorous and creative scientist with expertise in virology or cancer biology.

This is a hands-on role requiring deep experimental ownership: you will design and execute critical experiments, generate and interpret data, and experimentally drive first-in-class preclinical programs toward the clinic.

You would report directly to the President of R&D and the CSO–and have the chance to grow into scientific leadership and management as the company grows.

You should have a Ph.D. and 4+ years of experience in at least ONE of the following areas:

1. Virology

Expertise modeling and tracking viral infections (e.g., influenza, SARS-CoV-2, herpesviruses, or biothreats) or developing and testing novel antiviral approaches.

2. Cancer Biology

Expertise modeling tumor spread (in vitro or in vivo), or developing novel cancer medicines, including monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies, or cell therapies.

3. Nucleic Acid Medicines

Hands-on experience developing RNA or DNA therapeutics (e.g., siRNA, ASO, mRNA), including optimization of delivery, potency, or stability.

4. Protein Engineering

Design and engineering of novel proteins, including use of modern computational, molecular dynamics, or AI approaches.

5. Cell-Based Screening

Design, validation, and execution of cell-based or high-throughput assays to identify, screen, or characterize therapeutic candidates.

Your specific area of expertise is less important to us than your rigor and passion for discovery!

What Makes This Role Different

• You will work at the interface of medicine, chemistry, and engineering, not in a silo
• You will own experiments and data end-to-end, from concept through interpretation
• You’ll have access to in-house robotics and AI-driven experimentation
• Our engineering team builds state-of-the-art robotic systems internally to accelerate discovery and improve safety and efficacy
• Real ownership and real decisions

Compensation & Benefits

• Stock options in a growing company with multiple first-in-class platform technologies
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company matching

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $95,000.00 – $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Stock options
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person