Research Scientist-Wet Lab Protein Engineer

AeroVironment (AV) advances innovative technologies through scientific research, engineering, and cross-functional collaboration to address complex challenges in defense, aerospace, and national security. Our biomaterials research focuses on leveraging biological systems to develop durable, high-performance materials with potential applications in advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.

AV is seeking a Research Scientist - Wet Lab Protein Engineer that will support protein and strain engineering initiatives through basic and applied research. This position involves working on-site in the Biomanufacturing & Biomaterials Laboratory. This role will focus on discovering, characterizing, and optimizing enzymes for diverse operating environments using model and non-model organisms.

• →Rational design, directed evolution, and semi-rational mutagenesis of proteins to tailor enzymatic activity and stability under diverse environmental conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, non-aqueous solvents). 

• →Biochemical assay development, enzyme kinetics, and protein characterization to validate target functionality. 
• →Executing molecular biology protocols. This may include plasmid construction, cloning, recombinant expression, CRISPR/gene editing, nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) extraction, and target manipulation.

• →Designing and tuning metabolic pathways to biosynthesize precursor molecules, complex hydrocarbons, and material monomers. 

• →Designing microplate-based assays, microfluidic workflows, or FACS-based screens to rapidly profile host and enzyme performance.
• →Collaborate with computational and fermentation scientists to aid protein design optimization and contribute to the development of biomanufacturing workflows. Apply modern genetic engineering techniques to isolate candidate proteins and develop host strains.
• →Utilize high-throughput screening methods to identify and evaluate candidate proteins and host strains.
• →Collaborate with computational and experimental scientists to develop and optimize biomolecules and biomanufacturing processes.
• → Contribute to the development of novel hydrocarbons, ceramic materials, and advanced optical materials.

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

• M.S. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering Biophysics, or a related field, required. (PhD, preferred) including designing, optimizing, and characterizing proteins and biologics using state of the art molecular biology and high throughput screening techniques.

• U.S. Citizenship is required due to government facility access requirements. 

• Demonstrated proficiency in core molecular biology techniques (plasmid construction/cloning, nucleic acid isolation, PCR/qPCR, etc.). 

• Proficiency in protein expression and purification. 

• Strong quantitative analysis and experimental troubleshooting capabilities. 

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering Biophysics, or a related field, required.
• Automation/High-Throughput Screening: Experience with high-throughput liquid handling robots or automated screening workflows. Demonstrated experience developing and running robust selection/screening assays (e.g., yeast/phage display, plate-based fluorescence, or cell-free translation systems). 

• Bio-Interfacial Modeling: Knowledge of how proteins behave when tethered to solid surfaces (e.g., resin or silica). 

• Library Generation: Hands-on expertise in library construction (e.g., Golden Gate cloning, Gibson Assembly, site-saturation mutagenesis, error-prone PCR). 

• Protein Purification: Familiarity with affinity tag based recombinant protein purification using an FPLC.  

• Fermentation Knowledge: Familiarity with bioreactor operation modes during scale-up. 
• Familiarity with computational tools (e.g., AlphaFold, Rosetta) to guide engineering efforts for novel enzymatic pathways.