Director, Compute & Data Infrastructure

Ellison Medical Institute•Los Angeles, CA

3d•$175,000 - $232,000

About The Position

At the Ellison Medical Institute, we are seeking an accomplished Director, Compute & Data Infrastructure to architect, scale, and operationalize the research computing and data foundations that power discovery across digital pathology, multi-omics, computational modeling, and AI-driven science. This leader owns the strategy and execution of our compute, storage, and data ecosystems—building unified architectures that ensure research data is visible, interoperable, well-governed, and fully compliant with regulatory, sponsor, and institutional requirements. The role is central to establishing the Institute’s readiness for artificial intelligence by delivering robust metadata standards, scalable data platforms, and high-performance computing environments designed for modern ML workflows. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in cloud/hybrid research computing, a strong understanding of biomedical data governance, and the ability to translate scientific needs into scalable infrastructure roadmaps. This is a high-impact, highly cross-functional position working closely with scientific, clinical, engineering, IT, and operational leaders. You will guide cloud partnerships, optimize technology investments, and mentor a high-performing technical team committed to supporting world-class research. Why You Should Join Us: Build the Foundation for AI-Driven Science: Develop the compute and data architectures that enable cutting-edge machine learning, digital pathology, and multi-omic research. Directly Accelerate Discovery: Shape systems that allow scientists to generate insights faster, collaborate more effectively, and advance breakthroughs from concept to clinic. Lead at the Intersection of Science & Technology: Partner with principal investigators, data scientists, clinicians, IT, and executive leadership to align infrastructure with transformative scientific priorities. Operate With Autonomy and Purpose: Drive strategy in a mission-driven environment that values innovation, ownership, and technical excellence. High Visibility, High Impact: Your work influences nearly every aspect of research operations—enabling reproducibility, compliance, and long-term institutional success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field required; Master’s or Ph.D. strongly preferred.
8+ years years leading compute and data infrastructure in life sciences, research computing, or similarly complex environments.
Proven expertise with cloud-native and hybrid architectures, scientific data management, distributed storage, and metadata/catalog systems.
Demonstrated success enabling research through infrastructure, ideally in digital pathology, computational biology, or computational drug discovery.
Strong understanding of data governance, integrity, and compliance frameworks relevant to biomedical research (HIPAA, GxP, FDA).
Experience in strategic planning, budget management, vendor negotiations, and cloud cost optimization.
High scientific fluency with the ability to partner effectively with discovery, translational, and clinical leaders.
Advanced proficiency in financial modeling, valuation, deal structuring, and strategic analysis.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and partner effectively with scientists, IT, and data professionals.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, capable of translating complex technical concepts into actionable strategies for non-technical stakeholders.
Strong strategic thinking with a record of operational excellence and innovation.
Self-starter with experience in a fast-paced environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a unified compute and data infrastructure strategy across on-premises and cloud environments.
Build scalable, secure, cost-efficient architectures that support long-term research goals.
Establish centralized visibility, governance, and lifecycle management for research data assets aligned with HIPAA, GxP, and FDA data integrity requirements.
Ensure systems support auditability, traceability, and reproducible science, including IND-relevant workflows.
Oversee compute, storage, networking, and data pipeline operations to ensure resilience, reliability, and performance.
Manage cloud and vendor partnerships to support institutional strategy and optimize cost.
Architect modern data platforms, metadata standards, and high-performance computing environments optimized for AI/ML and automation.
Partner with scientific teams to integrate platforms with emerging research workflows.
Collaborate with scientists, engineers, IT, and leadership to translate research requirements into actionable technical roadmaps.
Present recommendations, performance insights, and future-state strategies to senior leadership.
Lead, mentor, and develop systems engineers, DevOps engineers, software engineers, and other technical staff.
Foster a culture of excellence, reliability, and innovation.
Create documentation, tutorials, and training resources to help researchers adopt compute and data platforms.
Present platform capabilities, innovations, and best practices through internal and external forums.