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Careers at Monarch

The hardest problems need the smartest minds.

This is one of the most important technical and moral challenges of our time. The implications of changing an insect’s decision to land could prevent disease in millions of people and protect more of the world’s food. We’re hiring people who want to take it on.

Three researchers at a behavioral assay station, beneath a wartime insect-repellent poster.

Who we are

Working at Monarch is not for everyone, but that's why it might be right for you.

The work

To make this happen, we need to understand the animal, build the models, and bring our work to the farmers and communities we serve.

  1. Understand the animal.

    Design the assays. Test the compounds. Measure whether an insect approaches, lands, feeds, or lays eggs. Help turn careful observation into experiments another lab can reproduce.

    Insect biology · Chemical ecology · Chemistry · Behavioral assays

  2. Build the intelligence.

    Turn recordings into measurements and measurements into training data. Build models that can predict the behavior of an animal exposed to a compound we have never tested, then put those predictions to the test.

    Machine learning · Computer vision · Computational chemistry

  3. Bring it beyond the lab.

    Turn promising compounds into formulations that work beyond the lab. Figure out how to manufacture them at scale, at a cost people can afford. Build the partnerships and commercial operations that get them into the hands of farmers and the people we work to protect.

    Formulation chemistry · Manufacturing · Commercialization · Operations

03 / Open roles

Take it on with us.

The Monarch sign over the entrance to the Emeryville office.

Frequently asked questions

What does it take to do well at Monarch?

You care about the question we’re trying to answer. You’re the kind of person who figures things out and knows you can shape the outcome. You think for yourself, follow the evidence, and care more about getting it right than winning approval. You find the limiting step and work to remove it, moving quickly on what matters while investing in what will make us faster tomorrow. You bring curiosity and humility to understanding how it all fits together, from the insects we must understand to the farmers and people we work to protect. You care more about what we accomplish together than who gets the credit for what we get done.

What does career growth look like?

We give people ownership early, which means you could find yourself leading significant work sooner than you would elsewhere. Promotions are tied to impact, not tenure or anything performative. We give feedback often, without waiting for a quarterly sit-down, as part of a culture of openness.

What should I expect during the Monarch interview process?

We start with a phone screen with video. Then you’ll come in for a tour, followed by an in-person interview with the team.

We’ll ask tough questions, including a hypothetical based on a real-life technical challenge, to understand how you would work through the problem. We’ll get back to you within two weeks.

How do I know if this is right for me?

We think it’s important to be honest that this is not the right place for most people, including many of our good friends. That includes people who would prefer a comfortable role over a challenging role, people who prefer avoiding the hard things to confronting them day to day, people who push back on feedback rather than having the humility to consider it, and people who don’t want a demanding, challenging role.

With that said, start with the mission and the challenges, and then read through each section of Who we are. Do you feel motivated to solve this? Does this feel right to you, knowing that this is not right for everyone? You don’t need to know how it all works already. If this challenge and freedom to get after something at scale appeal to you, take a look at our open roles.

Do all team members receive equity?

Yes, regardless of their position, location, or tenure.