Senior Manager / Associate Director, Automation Sciences

The Opportunity

insitro’s vision is the development of novel, cutting-edge methods in machine learning and high-throughput science to address key bottlenecks across the whole drug development value chain.  To execute on this vision, we are building a unique, multimodal research platform that incorporates a range of cutting edge technologies - both experimental and computational - and deploys them robustly and at scale.

We are committed to scaling biological systems to achieve a deep mechanistic understanding of disease biology, enabling us to identify effective therapeutic interventions. Standardization and reproducibility are key to our mission. As the Senior Manager / Associate Director of the Automation Sciences function, you will lead, guide, and mentor a team of automation scientists who develop workflow solutions using our diverse automation platform components. This role involves close collaboration with internal therapeutic area research teams and cross-domain experts, including engineers from automation, machine learning, and software disciplines, to contribute to our mission.

Your specific responsibilities will include the following:

• Manage and mentor a group of automation scientists focused on providing solutions to scaling insightful biology utilizing our diverse automation platform components
• Represent the automation science function to cross functional and leadership teams, by presenting high quality work with clear actionable outcomes
• Allocate resources to support ongoing projects, operations and new projects.
• Oversee the conceptualization, development, deployment and operation of cell-based automation workflows for the preparation of material for biobanking, differentiation, and chemical and genetic screening through image and genomics based phenotyping
• Collaborate strongly with the automation development team, partner in the creation of  strategic project roadmaps to ensure that life cycle management of cell culture based automated systems is appropriate and complete
• Identify new cell culture automation solutions or technologies to enhance efficiency and enable scaling of complex workflows
• Effectively partner and communicate with our LIMS team to ensure a cohesive build of our high-throughput data engine
• Ensure that R&D efforts are aligned with company goals and with fulfilling business deliverables to partners, even in the face of scientific uncertainty.

About You

• PhD with a biological/chem-bio/bioengineering/engineering focus, or equivalent experience
• 5-7+ years of practical work experience in the biopharma industry or high-throughput academic/non-profit core 
• Minimum of 4 years leadership experience
• Established automation leader focused on cell culture automation with demonstrated accomplishment in complex organizations that span from innovative discovery through scalable execution 
• Enthusiasm for tackling bold, ambitious goals and a passion for helping transform the lives of patients
• A demonstrated history of success in partnering on the rapid development and implementation of automation solutions for cell-based target and drug discovery workflows
• A focused team builder and manager who is also a strategic thinker, with demonstrated ability to understand the big picture and translate it into detailed, operational execution
• Ability to make decisions effectively and with data-driven rigor, in a way that integrates information from multiple stakeholders and ensures buy-in
• Track record of effective execution in work environments that are dynamic, fast-paced, and characterized by rapid growth
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues across a range of disciplines and to create alignment across diverse stakeholders
• Self-aware, unpretentious, and of high integrity

Nice to Have

• Exposure to the development and execution of ML methods a considerable plus
• Understanding of human cell culture, especially induced pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives  
• Broad knowledge of technology platforms that are relevant to drug discovery and development 
• Experience working under the resource and time constraints of an early stage startup

Compensation & Benefits at insitro

Our target starting salary for successful US-based applicants for this role is $190,000 - $225,000. To determine starting pay, we consider multiple job-related factors including a candidate's skills, education and experience, market demand, business needs, and internal parity. We may also adjust this range in the future based on market data.

This role is eligible for participation in our Annual Performance Bonus Plan (based on company targets by role level and annual company performance) and our Equity Incentive Plan, subject to the terms of those plans and associated policies.

In addition, insitro also provides our employees:

• 401(k) plan with employer matching for contributions
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage (insitro pays 100% of premiums for employees on our base plans), as well as mental health and well-being support
• Open, flexible vacation policy
• Paid parental leave
• Quarterly budget for books and online courses for self-development
• Support to occasionally attend professional conferences that are meaningful to your career growth and development
• New hire stipend for home office setup
• Monthly cell phone & internet stipend
• Access to free onsite baristas and cafe with daily lunch and breakfast
• Access to free onsite fitness center
• Commuter benefits

insitro is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

We believe diversity, equity, and inclusion need to be at the foundation of our culture. We work hard to bring together diverse teams–grounded in a wide range of expertise and life experiences–and work even harder to ensure those teams thrive in inclusive, growth-oriented environments supported by equitable company and team practices. All candidates can expect equitable treatment, respect, and fairness throughout the interview process.