Protein Engineer
Full-time, on-site (Heidelberg area)
Application Deadline: May 8
QuantiLight is building a diagnostic platform that delivers lab-grade blood test results in minutes at the point of care. The company’s first clinical focus is therapeutic drug monitoring, beginning with transplant care, with expansion into additional diagnostic and research applications over time.
Based on our strong technology foundation from the Max-Planck Institute, we have built a cutting-edge prototype validated in real care settings, and already work with clinics and key opinion leaders, supported by strong partners and grants. We closed our Pre-Seed round in Q2 2026 and are completing the core team bringing the platform to market.
To support the team, we are hiring a Protein Engineer.
You will lead bioluminescent sensors development to advance QuantiLight's pipeline of diagnostics assays. Hand-in-hand with the founders (who have protein engineering experience themselves) you will choose the molecular targets and architecture, build and manage lab infrastructure as well as a high-performing R&D team comprising biologists and chemists. You will take full ownership of sensor development projects from concept to validation.
What you will do
• Establish and maintain laboratory infrastructure, ensuring efficient wet-lab workflows and equipment readiness, and compliance with quality standards.
• Design, engineer, and optimize protein and sensor architecture for novel molecular targets, combining computational modelling and experimental validation (~30% in silico, ~70% wet lab).
• Express, purify, and characterize protein and sensor variants using biochemical and biophysical assays (e.g. plate reader assays (luminescence, fluorescence, ELISA), BLI).
• Perform data analysis, statistical modelling, and visualization to interpret assay results and support decision-making.
• Maintain detailed experimental records, contribute to intellectual property filings (patents, invention disclosures) and co-author scientific publications together with the CTO.
• Hire, mentor and supervise interns in biology and chemistry, fostering a collaborative and innovative team culture.
• Reporting directly to the CTO, you will contribute to strategic R&D planning and scout emerging technologies relevant to the company’s biosensor platform.
• PhD or Master's degree, equivalent to at least 4 years of relevant professional experience in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or closely related field.
• Strong experience in protein/enzyme engineering, rational protein design and recombinant protein production and characterization.
• Proficiency with structural biology and computational design softwares (e.g., PyMOL, AlphaFold, Rosetta, Schrödinger) as well as data analysis tools (e.g. GraphPad Prism)
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, track projects (e.g., via CRM tools), and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable using collaboration and communication tools (e.g., Slack, Google Workspace, LinkedIn, Canva, Notion) and standard software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Adobe).
• Fluency in English required (spoken & written).
• Legal right to work in Germany (no visa sponsorship possible with this role)
• Experience with machine learning/AI for protein design or sequence analysis.
• Data analysis and automation skills (e.g. Python, R)
• Background in directed evolution, mutagenesis libraries, or high-throughput screening.
• High-impact role: Directly shape QuantiLight's bioluminescent sensor technology and R&D pipeline to drive company success.
• Ownership & autonomy: Lead projects end-to-end, build and manage our growing R&D team.
• Professional growth: Thrive in a dynamic startup environment with mentoring founders; exposure to BioTech entrepreneurship; clear path to Head of Laboratory as we grow.
• Competitive compensation: Full-time (40 hrs/week) at 70k€ annualized salary + meaningful early-employee virtual equity (shared during the process)
QuantiLight is committed to an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of background.
Tell us a bit more about yourself
1/ What excites you specifically about QuantiLight's mission and this role? (max 500 characters)
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2/ Describe a protein engineering project that you led using rational design, computational tools, or both. What was the target improvement (e.g., affinity, stability), key design steps, and experimental validation results? (max 800 characters)
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3/ Have you worked on biosensors or similar approach? If yes, describe the protein/sensor design and key performance metrics achieved (e.g., LOD, dynamic range). If not, how would you adapt your skills to bioluminescent biosensors? (max 800 characters)
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4/ Describe a time you took full ownership of an R&D project end-to-end (from planning to delivery). What framework did you use to break it into milestones, track progress, and hit deadlines? What was the final deliverable and outcome? (max 800 characters)
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5/ Do you have experience supervising scientists (including interns) and/or setting up a research lab? What were the highlights and challenges that you faced? (max 800 characters)
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6/ What does success look like to you in 3/12/36 months? (max 800 characters)
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7/ Is there something that we should know about you? (max 500 characters)
Please upload your resume & motivation letter
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