Scientist, Applied Cell Line Development & Customer Programs

Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. Our first-of-its-kind optogenetic platform delivers unprecedented control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, our technology enables dynamic, tunable control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. We're enabling partners to unlock robust efficiency, quality, and reproducibility advantages across the most complex pharmaceuticals and therapeutic proteins. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield and SOSV.

We’re looking for an experienced Scientist to lead external customer projects focused on mammalian cell line development for biomanufacturing. Prolific’s optogenetic platform uses light to control cellular activity, creating new opportunities to improve recombinant protein production. Working with this emerging technology requires curiosity, creative problem-solving, and hands-on troubleshooting as you help translate platform advances into robust customer workflows. This role connects technical design, experimental execution, and team leadership - translating Prolific’s platform capabilities into reliable outcomes for customer delivery.

Working closely with the department head responsible for customer delivery, you will own the technical approach, day-to-day execution, and high level oversight of assigned projects. You will work closely with research associates and junior scientists, providing clear priorities, experimental guidance, and support for their professional development. In partnership with project managers and cross-functional technical teams, you will keep projects on track, resolve execution challenges, and communicate results, risks, and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.

You will also be part of establishing how we deliver customer projects as our offerings expand: translating R&D advances into repeatable workflows, developing templates and execution standards, and ensuring customer work remains aligned with the broader Prolific platform. You’ll have support from experienced technical and project leaders while taking ownership of outcomes for the projects you lead. This role is based on-site in our headquarters in Emeryville, CA.