
Software Engineer, Developer & Research Platform at Chai Discovery (San Francisco, CA)
Chai Discovery· San Francisco, CA·
Role details
Job description
About Chai Discovery
Chai Discovery builds the computer-aided design suite for molecules. Eli Lilly, GSK, Pfizer, Bristol Meyers, argenx and Novartis all use Chai to power drug discovery programs. AI is reinventing life sciences the same way it reinvented software engineering, and our team is building that future. We train frontier models that learn the underlying foundations of biochemical structure and interaction. We pair this with a computational workspace to iterate on molecules from idea to medicine, helping scientists move faster and develop medicines beyond the reach of existing methods. We value diverse perspectives and are ready to find greatness in unexpected places.
About the role
Build the platform that shortens the time it takes researchers and engineers to test ideas, ship software, and learn from experiments. We believe the software factory is just as important as the software itself, and you will build that factory for people and agents, including:
- Shipping the research platform where people and agents launch experiments, compare results, and decide what to try next.
- Designing systems that let coding agents take on more development, testing, and code review.
- Setting up better development environments, faster tests, and reliable deploys.
About you
We look for strong systems engineering, developer taste, and a record of making other technical people more effective. You understand how researchers and engineers work, can go deep into the systems they depend on, and build tools they want to use.
We offer
The opportunity to work at the vanguard of AI research and frontier biology, with world-class people, on a mission that matters. We protect & promote a culture of high velocity and ownership. We compensate our team accordingly.
Why work at Chai Discovery
- Culture: Highly interdisciplinary, blending computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, and physics. The company values deep technical talent and a "heads down" approach to pushing the frontier of AI. chaidiscovery.com
- Work policy: In-person in San Francisco, California (HQ at 235 Pine St, Suite 1300). linkedin.com
- Notable perks/engineering culture: Working at a well-funded, high-valuation startup with direct ties to OpenAI and a clear path to impact in a cutting-edge field. The team is small (~27 people) but growing fast, offering significant ownership and responsibility. Talent sources include Stripe, CERN, and Generate:Biomedicines, indicating a high-caliber peer group. linkedin.com