Role Summary

You will own the neural substrate of the CEREBRION bionic brain system in both its living and engineered, materials-based forms, as well as the bioelectronic interface that couples that substrate to the rest of the system. You define how living and engineered substrates combine into adaptive, learning, durable embodiments, working closely with the photonics, mechatronics, and controls leads on integration.

Key Responsibilities

Neural Substrate (CEREBRION)
• Own the neural substrate of CEREBRION across both its living and engineered, materials-based forms.
• Develop and maintain engineered neural tissue and biohybrid substrates.
• Design and build materials-based, neural-emulating substrates using ionic and conducting-polymer (iontronic) device approaches.
• Partner with the photonics lead on the device-level fabrication and physics of materials-based substrates.
• Support closed-loop learning across the integrated system.
• Establish biosafety, ethics, and reproducibility standards for all living-systems work.

Bioelectronic Interface
• Own the bioelectronic interface between biological substrates and the platform's electronic and optical subsystems.
• Develop and characterize the interface materials and transduction approaches that make that coupling reliable.
• Collaborate with the photonics and controls leads on integration across the interface.

IP & Technical Leadership
• Generate foundational IP across neural and biohybrid systems, ionic and organic-bioelectronic devices, and bioelectronic interfaces.
• Lead invention disclosures and experimental validation in coordination with patent counsel.
• Build and mentor the wet-lab and bioengineering team over time.

Required Qualifications
• MS or PhD in Bioengineering, Neural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field (Neuroscience, Synthetic Biology, or Materials Science with a bioelectronics focus are all relevant).
• 8+ years of hands-on research and development experience across living-systems and bioelectronic work.
• A strong living-systems foundation spanning engineered neural tissue, biohybrid systems, and organoids, with demonstrated depth in at least one of these branches.
• Hands-on experience with bioelectronic interfaces, the coupling between neural or biological substrates and electronic or optical systems.
• Experience with ionic and conducting-polymer devices, iontronics, or organic bioelectronics, and the ability to build materials-based, neural-emulating substrates.
• Demonstrated ability to take living or materials-based systems from bench to integrated, reproducible use.
• Strong experimental design and cross-disciplinary communication.

Strongly Preferred
• Organic bioelectronics, iontronics, or neuromorphic materials.
• Organoid, neural-tissue, or biohybrid-computing research.
• Bioelectronic interfaces, neural probes, or brain-machine interfaces.
• Experience bridging wet-lab, hardware, and robotics teams.

A Successful Candidate Will Be Measured By
• Stability, function, and learning capacity of the neural substrate across its living and engineered forms.
• Reliability of the bioelectronic interface across the integrated system.
• Successful integration of living-systems work with the rest of the platform.
• Strength and defensibility of generated biotech and materials IP.

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.

The pay range for this role is:

145,000 - 165,000 USD per year (Ashburn, VA)