About this role
About Infera
Infera Biosystems is a Y Combinator-backed company building toward closed-loop science: AI agents that carry out research end to end, from designing an experiment and running it on lab instruments to analyzing the results and deciding what to test next. Our mission is to close the loop between in silico work and the wet lab, so scientists can direct entire discovery programs and cure disease faster.
We're building that loop one piece at a time. Today, our compiler turns written protocols into validated runs on lab instruments. BioBase, our desktop research environment, feeds instrument data straight into agent-driven analysis. Academic, hospital and pharma labs already use Infera to run their protocols, connect their instruments and get from raw data to answers faster.
About the role
We're looking for a senior R&D leader from pharma to own our relationships with large research organizations. You'll be the connective tissue between Infera and pharma R&D, process and data teams: opening conversations, shaping pilots and making sure they turn into lasting partnerships. You'll also be a senior scientific voice for Infera with customers, partners and investors. This role starts as a part-time contract, with the option to grow into a full-time position.
### Key responsibilities
- Own Infera's pharma partnerships end-to-end, from first introduction through pilot to contract
- Open doors with R&D, process engineering, lab digitization and analytical teams, and lead executive-level conversations
- Frame Infera around what pharma cares about: reproducibility, data integrity, batch quality, compliance and risk
- Design pilots with clear success metrics that large organizations can approve, and guide us through security review, procurement and IP terms
- Build co-selling relationships with instrument makers and lab-buildout partners
- Bring field signal back to the founders on which workflows, instruments and data problems matter most in pharma labs
### Minimum qualifications
- Have held a Senior Director, VP or equivalent role in research, process development, lab operations or R&D informatics at a pharma or large biotech company
- Have owned or influenced budget for lab software, automation or instruments, and know how those decisions get made
- Have a network of R&D, process and data leaders who would take your call
- Can tell real AI and automation capability from hype, and explain the difference to executives
### Preferred qualifications
- PhD or equivalent scientific training
- Experience advising or working at an early-stage company
- Experience with GxP-regulated environments
The annual compensation range for this role is listed below.
**Annual Salary (full-time equivalent):**
$100,000—$400,000 USD
### Logistics
- **Commitment:** Part-time contract to start, with the option to grow into a full-time role.
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA preferred. Remote within the US considered.
- **Equity:** Meaningful.
**We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every qualification.** We care more about what you've done than about checking boxes.