Summary

We’re looking for an experimental protein chemist to help us create a more sustainable food system. You want to apply your knowledge of protein structure-function relationships to engineer new categories of sustainable, cheap protein ingredients that can truly scale to meet our global crises. You love manipulating and characterizing new proteins, particularly if those proteins go into something you can eat. And most importantly, you share our values. This position is based in Oakland, CA and offers competitive salary and equity.

About Tezza

Our food system represents a whopping 34% of global carbon emissions and is the primary driver of species extinction and deforestation. Within food, the biggest single problem is cows. Cows outweigh humans 🤯 and account for over 10% of carbon emissions. Dairy alone produces more carbon than all of aviation.

But the problem is that cows and their milk taste really good, and no amount of guilt will ever stop us from devouring them. The only solution is to create sustainable products that are better than cows on two factors: taste and cost.

Tezza is a public benefit corporation that discovers and designs microbial communities that transform inexpensive, sustainable plants into new categories of fermented foods. This approach allows us to create plant-based products that are absurdly delicious and cheaper than their animal-based counterparts. We are starting with the most resource-intensive and addictive dairy product: 🧀.

About the position

You will be working with us to accelerate the discovery of cultured foods. Some of your responsibilities will include:

  • Rationally characterize and modify plant-based and animal-based proteins

  • With with our product team to incorporate novel protein ingredients into new products

  • Proof-of-concept optimizations to demonstrate scalable costs

  • Build a company where mission and money meet

  • This position is full time and not remote

Qualifications

  • PhD in protein chemistry, structure, engineering or a related field

  • 3+ years industry work experience in chemical and biochemical modifications of proteins and protein structure-function relationships

  • Ability to breakdown complex physical and chemical behaviors into discrete biochemical functions and then engineer those functions

  • A deeply held conviction in our mission and values

What do you get out of it?

  • You’ll work on global sustainability problems via a hands-on, tasty product

  • You'll get to wear many hats and learn what it takes to build an early-stage startup in sustainability and biotechnology

  • An opportunity to have a systemic impact on the food system

  • A chance to build the kind of place where you’d like to work

If interested, what should you do?

First, learn about our values, culture, hiring process, and benefits here.

To apply, please email join@tezzafoods.com with a resume and responses to the following prompts (a conversational, unpolished tone is fine):

  1. What motivates you right now? What about for the long term? And most importantly, why? 

  2. What are the most important things that you are striving to improve in yourself? What are you doing to work on them? 

Tezza is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. But we acknowledge that we are flawed humans within a flawed society. We do our best and apologize and learn when that’s not enough.