Principal Scientist, Therapeutic Discovery

About The Role

Join a driven, mission-focused team based in San Francisco, featuring experts from prestigious institutions including MIT, Harvard Medical School, Roche, ETH, and Dana-Farber. We prioritize rapid yet rigorous progress, fueled by enthusiasm, determination, and a strong work ethic. In our early-stage environment, we seek individuals who excel at clarifying ambiguous problems, taking initiative, and following through with vigor.

At Capable Labs, you'll work alongside ambitious, high-integrity professionals passionate about impactful work. You'll receive close mentorship from key scientific and company decision-makers and gain opportunities to lead increasingly significant challenges.

We believe outstanding performance should be met with meaningful rewards, ownership, and trust. Responsibility is earned through contribution and demonstrated judgment, rigor, and execution rather than by title alone. Anyone who exhibits these qualities to advance critical projects can earn substantial scope.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead therapeutic research efforts from concept to early validation in areas such as contraception, stress resilience, cognition, exercise mimetics, recovery, and sleep.
• Design scientifically robust research proposals addressing fundamental questions in human health and performance.
• Translate research ideas into actionable plans by defining targets, mechanisms, modalities, assay methodologies, biomarkers, progression criteria, budgets, and timelines.
• Choose appropriate experimental platforms, including RNA, small molecules, peptides, polymers, or biologics.
• Conduct all phases of research: hypothesis formulation, literature analysis, experiment design and execution, data interpretation, and program assessment, in close collaboration with scientific peers.
• Build and lead cross-disciplinary teams, engage advisors and collaborators, source necessary models and equipment, and oversee research operations.
• Stay directly engaged with experimental data and overall program direction. Capable Labs allocates significant funding to projects demonstrating solid foundational evidence.

Candidate Profile

• Possess a strong academic record and have led or materially contributed to drug discovery or therapeutic research aimed towards clinical application.
• Demonstrate independent scientific research experience with tangible outcomes such as publications, patents, or funded grants.
• Hold research interests covering impactful biomedical topics including sleep, cognition, reproductive health, disease resistance, recovery, aging, and biological health determinants.
• Exhibit sound scientific judgment, critical literature evaluation, and precise formulation of actionable research pathways.
• Be proactive, detail-oriented, analytical, and uphold high scientific standards aligning with academic rigor while advancing projects decisively and efficiently.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary range of $180,000 to $340,000, depending on expertise and impact scope.
• Equity options currently valued approximately between $50,000 and $200,000 before exercise cost, taxes, dilution, or liquidity risk.
• Flexible compensation discussions for candidates whose background or needs fall outside the stated range, based on potential contribution.
• Monthly wellness budget exceeding $500, usable for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other performance enhancement tools.
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage including medical, dental, and vision, with Capable covering 100% of the base policy.
• Access to Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and 401(k) retirement plans.
• Provision of healthy dinners daily with the team in the workplace.
• Support for visa sponsorships such as O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based permits; diverse team with members spanning multiple countries.

Application Process

• Submit initial application.
• Complete first phone interview.
• Complete second phone interview.
• Participate in an in-person work trial in San Francisco to assess mutual fit and experience working together with the founding team.

Additional Information

If unsure but interested, candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of active job searching status. The company welcomes individuals who may not perfectly match the job listing but show promise for meaningful impact. Referral bonuses are offered for successful candidate recommendations. Compensation range reiterated: $180,000 to $340,000 annually.