Senior Engineer I, ADME
$115k - $165k USD
Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.
Here at Ginkgo, we are aiming to modernize ADME by bringing our experience in high-throughput screening to the in vitro small molecule drug pipeline. We are re-imagining ADME at scale, and we are seeking a visionary and technically adept High-Throughput ADME Scientist to help us build and execute this next-generation platform. This role is critical in accelerating our drug discovery pipeline by providing timely and high-quality in vitro ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) data to guide lead optimization.
The ideal candidate will possess deep technical expertise in developing, validating, and implementing a variety of high-throughput ADME assays.
Key Responsibilities
Assay Development & Implementation
- Design, develop, optimize, and validate a wide array of high-throughput in vitro ADME assays (e.g., solubility, MDCK permeability, plasma protein binding, microsomal stability, hepatocyte stability, and CYP inhibition/induction).
- Automation and Screening: Experience working with automated liquid handlers such as Hamilton, Lynx, Bravo, and Formulatrix.
Data Analysis & Reporting
- Develop and perform mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, acoustic ejection mass spectrometry, or similar) analysis of samples from ADME assays. Responsibilities will include method development and troubleshooting.
- Ensure proper sample preparation and management for high-throughput analysis.
- Analyze, interpret, and report complex ADME data, including calculating key pharmacokinetic parameters.
- Present results and provide expert recommendations to medicinal chemists and project teams to inform go/no-go decisions.
Quality & Compliance
- Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory records, SOPs, and electronic notebooks.
- Ensure all laboratory activities comply with internal quality standards and safety regulations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Master's degree with 5+ years of industry experience.
- Technical Expertise:
- Extensive, hands-on experience with LC-MS or acoustic MS particularly in a high-throughput setting.
- Proven track record in developing and running automated in vitro ADME assays using state-of-the-art laboratory automation.
- Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of drug metabolism pathways and DMPK.
- Familiarity with common ADME prediction software and data visualization tools.
Preferred Skills
- Experience using lab automation.
- Programmatic coding experience (e.g., Python, R, or similar).
- Data visualization (Spotfire, Python, R, or similar).
- Experience handling clinical samples.
- Familiarity with working in a CRO (Contract Research Organization) environment or managing CRO relationships.
- Proficiency with electronic laboratory data capture systems (e.g., LIMS, ELN).
The base salary range for this role is $115,000.00 - $165,000.00. Actual pay within this range will depend on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer company stock awards, a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, 401(k) program with employer contribution, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.
Ginkgo has implemented a return to office policy effective October 1, 2025 with required in-office days 3x per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Some teams may require to be onsite 4-5 days per week and this will be discussed as part of the interview process. This policy applies to all employees who live within 50 miles of Ginkgo’s offices in Boston, MA, Emeryville, CA and West Sacramento, CA.
It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.
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