Senior Director, Technical Operations & Automation

Company Overview

• Our mission at Ansa Biotechnologies is to revolutionize the way we make DNA. Compared to
• reading or editing life’s code, writing new code from scratch has remained one of the field’s most
• elusive challenges. At Ansa, we are putting nature to work, creating novel enzymatic solutions
• that will redefine how we build DNA. We believe that the biggest challenges our world faces will
• be solved using biotechnology and that DNA synthesis is the fuel for that transformation. Our
• enzyme-based approach (published in Nature Biotechnology) promises to dramatically accelerate
• innovation in biological research and biotechnology, including therapeutics, diagnostics,
• biomanufacturing, and synthetic biology.

Job Description

• Ansa is seeking a deeply capable, visionary leader to partner with the COO in scaling our
• manufacturing organization and technical capabilities. This is a critical role for a company
• moving from early commercial traction into industrial-scale operations.
• This leader will be responsible for the architecture and execution of a world-class lab automation
• ecosystem, process engineering, bridging the gap between R&D and high-volume
• manufacturing. The ideal candidate combines strong scientific and engineering depth with
• operational rigor, capable of leading a multidisciplinary team. The role spans sustaining
• manufacturing operations support, process scale-up, automation, QA/QC partnership, transfer of
• processes from R&D into manufacturing, and capacity expansion planning, including future
• facility build-out.
• This is an on-site leadership role based in Emeryville, CA. Candidates must be in the Bay Area
• or willing to relocate.
• If you are energized by delighting customers and are stoked to help us ship DNA to world-
• changing biotech companies and research labs, then we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

Process Scale-Up & Industrialization

•  Develop strategies to scale sensitive biological reactions into robust industrial processes.
•  Establish a disciplined framework for tech transfer from R&D into Manufacturing,
• ensuring processes are controlled, documented, and scalable.
•  Drive initiatives to maximize first pass yields, reduce COGS through automation and
• improve cycle time.

Automation & Lab Ecosystem Architecture

•  Architect and execute a multi-year automation strategy for custom enzymatic gene
• synthesis, prioritizing modularity and extreme scalability.
•  Drive the Automation Index - increasing the percentage of hands-free synthesis
• workflows while achieving industry-leading first-pass yields.
•  Partner with Software teams to ensure seamless data flow between LIMS, scheduling
• software, and automated hardware.

Operational Excellence & Monitoring

•  Partner with Software teams to implement real-time Statistical Process Control (SPC) to
• monitor process performance and robotic precision.
•  Define and track critical KPIs: throughput capacity, cycle time, right-first-time yield,
• labor productivity, and synthesis cost.

Quality, Compliance & Infrastructure

•  Partner with Quality leadership to build robust systems with “Quality in mind” (ISO
• 9001/13485 readiness) including deviation management, CAPA support, and change
• control.
•  Partner closely with the COO on future facility build-outs, including equipment strategy,
• space planning, and infrastructure requirements to meet global demand.

Cross-Functional Leadership

•  Serve as a key cross-functional partner to R&D, Product Management, Commercial
• teams, Supply Chain, Finance, and Quality.
•  Help translate company strategy into a manufacturing roadmap that supports growth.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

•  This position operates in both a professional office environment and a biotechnology
• laboratory/manufacturing environment.
•  Must be able to tolerate lab environments, wear standard Personal Protective Equipment
• (PPE), and occasionally lift or move equipment up to 25 pounds.
•  Standard regional travel may be required for facility build-outs or vendor site visits.

Qualifications

•  Education: PhD in Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a
• related field. (Equivalent deep industry experience with a BS/MS will be fully
• considered).
•  Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in biotech technical operations or
• manufacturing, with a proven track record of 5+ years leading automation-centric
• organizations or teams.
•  Technical Expertise: Expert-level knowledge of liquid handling programming, custom
• hardware integration, and scaling complex biochemical reactions.
•  Scaling Success: Proven track record of moving processes from R&D into reliable, high-
• volume commercial production.
•  Systems Thinking: Ability to visualize the entire synthesis lifecycle, from digital
• sequence to purified DNA product.
•  Leadership: Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across functions
• (R&D, Commercial, Finance) and inspire teams to solve "impossible" engineering
• challenges.
•  Domain Knowledge: Experience in nucleic acid synthesis, synthetic biology, or genomics
• tools is strongly preferred.

What We Offer

•  Competitive base salary and equity options.
•  Generous benefits package including comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
•  Ongoing professional development, mentorship, and training opportunities.
•  A collaborative, innovative, and psychologically safe work environment.
•  The opportunity to be part of a company at the forefront of synthetic biology and
• innovation.

California Pay Transparency Disclosure

•  San Francisco Bay Area Base Salary Range: $220,000 – $250,000.
• Note: This range represents the expected base salary for this role at the time of posting. Actual
• compensation within this range will be determined based on factors such as specific skills,
• relevant experience, education, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, this position is
• eligible for an equity package and our full benefits portfolio.
• Equal Opportunity & Diversity Commitment
• Ansa Biotechnologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive
• consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
• gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other
• characteristic protected by applicable law.
• At Ansa, we are building a high-performing team focused on changing how scientists access
• DNA. We look for people who are curious, rigorous, accountable, and excited to work on hard
• problems. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications, experience, and the needs of
• the business.