[Hiring] Senior Scientist / Engineer: Synthetic Biology & Bioengineering @Intertwine Associates

Role Description

Work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment as a Senior Scientist / Engineer supporting federal agencies and other clients across synthetic biology, bioengineering, and the life sciences. Collaborate with government program managers, agency leadership, and client teams to shape bold research initiatives; support the development, funding, and management of new and existing R&D programs; and help clients accelerate better outcomes for health, security, and the bioeconomy.

• Provide direct technical support to R&D performer teams, program managers, and stakeholders across the innovation ecosystem.
• Bring deep technical expertise in synthetic biology and/or bioengineering, applying it to emerging technologies in the context of translation, manufacturability, regulatory constraints, and biosecurity.
• Provide technical and strategic support across areas such as:
  • Genetic circuit and cell engineering
  • Engineered cell therapies
  • Gene editing
  • Nucleic acid therapeutics and delivery
  • Protein engineering and directed evolution
  • Cell-free systems
  • Microbial engineering and biomanufacturing
  • AI-driven biological design
• Conduct landscape analyses and technical diligence on emerging capabilities, vendors, performers, and scientific trends.
• Advise on the scientific plausibility, feasibility, manufacturability, and adoption potential of proposed approaches.
• Assess the path to impact alongside the science, including:
  • Scale-up and process development
  • Quality and GMP considerations
  • Regulatory strategy
  • Supply chain
  • Adoption barriers
• Review and assess technical proposals, performer submissions, milestones, deliverables, and program risks.
• Provide feedback, organize reviewer comments, and draft recommendations, project summaries, and presentation materials.
• Help identify subject-matter experts, potential performers, test and evaluation partners, and transition stakeholders across academia, industry, and government.
• Assist in program management functions, including:
  • Preparing for technical meetings
  • Conducting site visits
  • Consolidating performer progress
  • Identifying schedule risks
  • Creating briefing materials
• Maintain awareness of relevant scientific, regulatory, biosecurity, and market developments.
• Strong client or customer engagement is required in this role.
• This is a remote position with approximately 10-20% CONUS travel.

Qualifications

• PhD in synthetic biology, bioengineering, molecular or cell biology, biochemistry, chemical engineering, immunology, microbiology, or a related discipline; or equivalent advanced research experience.
• Demonstrated subject-matter expertise in one or more of:
  • Genetic circuit or cell engineering
  • Engineered cell therapies
  • Gene editing
  • Nucleic acid therapeutics and delivery
  • Protein engineering
  • Microbial engineering
  • Biomanufacturing
  • Computational and AI-driven biological design
• Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate technical data, experimental plans, and development pathways.
• Experience synthesizing complex scientific information into concise written and visual products for decision support.
• Experience supporting complex R&D efforts involving academic, clinical, and/or industrial stakeholders.
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, both internally and externally with members of the public.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, and to prioritize work.
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and proactive.
• Strong work ethic and a passion for scientific discovery and its real-world impact.
• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency may be required per contract.
• Ability to obtain a federal government Public Trust or security clearance where the assignment requires one.

Additional Qualifications

• Industry experience translating an engineered biology platform toward the clinic, the field, or manufacturing scale.
• Experience with CMC, GMP, or regulatory interactions for biologics, cell or gene therapies, or engineered organisms.
• Familiarity with biosecurity, dual-use research, and responsible innovation frameworks.
• Experience with computational or AI-driven biological design and data-intensive biology.
• Experience supporting DARPA or related federal “ARPA” agencies (IARPA, ARPA-E, HSARPA, ARPA-H), or other federal R&D, health, defense, or science agencies.
• Science policy experience (for example, a AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship or a comparable program).
• Two or more years of experience in federal, healthcare, or scientific consulting.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Anticipated base salary range for this position is $90,000-$220,000 per year.
• Eligibility for discretionary bonuses, signing or retention incentives, or other variable compensation.
• Salary range does not include potential bonuses, other incentive compensation, or benefits.