Scientist

Actalent is hiring for a Scientist in the Thousand Oaks area - Structural Biology and Cryo-EM Data Workflows

Job Description

This onsite Scientist role is based in Thousand Oaks and focuses on developing robust, user-centered automation workflows for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data processing, reporting, and scientific decision support. The position combines deep structural biology and cryo-EM expertise with strong computational skills to leverage AI and modern software practices, reducing manual documentation, improving data traceability, and creating standardized, reusable analysis tools. The standard schedule is approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a generally consistent routine and no anticipated regular overtime or weekend work. The assignment is expected to run for 12 months, and candidates outside the area may be considered if they are willing and able to relocate at their own expense.

Responsibilities

• Develop robust, user-centered automation workflows for cryo-EM data processing, reporting, and scientific decision support.
• Combine practical understanding of structural biology and cryo-EM workflows with computational skills to leverage AI for reducing manual documentation and improving data traceability.
• Create standardized, reusable analysis tools that support structural biology experiments and decision-making.
• Meet regularly with structural biologists to understand current workflows, identify pain points, and translate scientific needs into clear, actionable software requirements.
• Design, develop, test, document, and maintain software tools that integrate with existing structural biology and cryo-EM workflows.
• Implement reproducible software practices, including use of GitLab version control, code review, automated and manual testing, dependency management, release documentation, and user instructions.
• Validate tools against representative datasets, troubleshoot failures, and refine workflows based on feedback from experimental and computational scientists.
• Maintain clear, comprehensive documentation of assumptions, input requirements, limitations, data provenance, and expected outputs for all tools and workflows.
• Present progress updates, tool demonstrations, technical recommendations, and concise literature or technology evaluations to scientific stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with both experimental and computational scientists to ensure tools and workflows are scientifically sound, practical, and aligned with user needs.
• Apply strong documentation and reproducible-development practices to ensure that workflows and tools can be reliably reused and extended.
• Contribute to a solid record of scientific publications, presentations, or technology innovation through the development and deployment of novel cryo-EM data-processing solutions.

Essential Skills

• Deep training and hands-on expertise in cryo-EM data processing, including single particle analysis, tomography, or microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) for structural biology applications.
• Direct, hands-on responsibility for cryo-EM data processing and structure determination or solving, beyond upstream contributions such as protein purification or sample preparation.
• Strong familiarity with cryo-EM software packages such as EPU and CryoSPARC.
• Experience developing custom data analysis pipelines that utilize scripting and multiple programs for cryo-EM data analysis.
• Comfort working at the Linux command line to control data-processing programs, including the ability to develop scripts, data-processing pipelines, reports, and scientific visualizations.
• Familiarity with working in high-performance computing (HPC) environments, including clusters and job schedulers, for large-scale cryo-EM data processing.
• Strong documentation skills and commitment to reproducible-development practices, ensuring traceable and repeatable workflows.
• Solid record of scientific publications, presentations, or technology innovation related to structural biology, cryo-EM, or scientific computing.
• High level of organization with great attention to detail, strong communication skills, and excellent interpersonal abilities.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with both experimental and computational scientists to deliver practical, scientifically rigorous solutions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Recent PhD in structural biology, biophysics, computational biology, or a related field is ideal; candidates with a master's degree plus relevant experience in cryo-EM and scientific computing will also be considered.
• Experience in at least one programming language, such as Python or another suitable language, to develop tools and automate scientific data workflows.
• Experience with version control systems, such as Git and GitLab, including branching, merging, code review, and release management.
• Ability to translate scientific user needs into practical, well-defined software and workflow requirements.
• Experience with x-ray crystallography data processing and related structural biology techniques.
• Familiarity with structural biology and visualization software packages such as Relion, PyMOL, ChimeraX, XDS, or similar tools.
• Experience customizing or troubleshooting data-processing workflows, including scripting and integration of multiple programs.
• Comfort working beyond basic GUI or tutorial-driven workflows, including command-line environments and high-performance computing systems.
• Experience presenting technical content, tool demonstrations, and literature or technology evaluations to scientific audiences.

Work Environment

The role is fully onsite in Thousand Oaks, working in a modern scientific and computational environment that supports advanced structural biology and cryo-EM research. The standard work schedule is approximately 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a generally consistent routine and no regular expectation of overtime or weekend work. The assignment is anticipated to last for 12 months. The environment includes access to cryo-EM instrumentation, structural biology tools, and high-performance computing clusters for data processing. You will work closely with experimental and computational scientists, using Linux-based systems, command-line tools, and software such as EPU, CryoSPARC, Relion, PyMOL, ChimeraX, XDS, and GitLab for version control and collaboration. The culture emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, rigorous documentation, and reproducible scientific and software practices, providing an engaging setting for early-career scientists to contribute to impactful structural biology workflows.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Thousand Oaks, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $41.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Thousand Oaks,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.