Director / Senior Director, Machine Learning for Biology

Altos Labs • San Diego, CA

2d

About The Position

Altos Labs is seeking a Director or Senior Director-level Scientist to lead the machine learning capability within the Institute of Computing (IoC). The IoC builds the machine learning to answer biological questions that current methods cannot address. This role requires a proven track record of applying large-scale ML methods to real biological problems. The ideal candidate will be hands-on technically, capable of shaping method choices, and senior enough to set strategic direction for the institute's most ambitious programs, focusing on cell rejuvenation and resilience.

Requirements

• Deep knowledge and understanding of common and state-of-the-art AI/ML methods and innovations, and large-scale training procedures applied to biological data modalities (e.g., single-cell, perturbation-response, spatial, or sequence data).
• Broad expertise and mastery across various AI/ML domains, specifically: reasoning and open-ended learning framework design for scientific hypothesis generation and evaluation; large-scale pretraining, fine-tuning, and post-training of foundation models, including RL, distillations, finetuning, and strategies to reduce hallucination and align model objectives with scientific discovery; model architectures that span multimodal generative and predictive modeling (normalizing flows, diffusion models, LLMs) for out-of-distribution generalization in biological systems; and hybrid modeling approaches — model identifiability, robustness, and regularized/interpretable methods such as anchor or energy-based models — for biological tasks, including target identification; semantic-based dynamic inference, virtual cell and world model paradigms.
• A strong track record of leading innovative biological ML projects to success.
• Ability to foresee and mitigate ML project failure modes at scale.
• Ability to think strategically, optimize for the long term, and deliver with pace.
• Ability to contribute to a culture of continuous learning and technical innovation.
• Ability to ensure a rigorous balance between creative exploration and strategic resource allocation and priorities.
• Stay current with scientific and data science advancements, integrating relevant knowledge into computational biology.
• Intellectually curious with a strong pulse on the computational landscape.
• Ability to decipher and prioritize AI trends from hype to maintain a competitive edge.
• PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Director: PhD + 10+ years experience with a proven track record, with a minimum of 4–5 years of experience in people management.
• Senior Director: PhD +14+ years experience, with 7–8+ years of people/team leadership, and a demonstrable broad background driving multiple programs through multi disciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience gained within a biotech or AI-driven life sciences environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the IoC Leadership Team to co-define and steer Altos’ core technical agenda.
• Strategically identify and prioritize critical biological questions where machine learning can drive breakthroughs in cell rejuvenation and resilience.
• Ensure ML investments are deployed against highest-impact scientific frontiers rather than pure technical advancement.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with key stakeholders and leaders across different functions at Altos.
• Lead a team of ML Scientists and Engineers, while remaining hands-on to provide direct technical guidance on high-impact ML programs.
• Provide technical and strategic guidance on ML project design and de-risking across multiple teams.
• Provide sustained technical mentorship and strategic guidance to support team growth.
• Proactively grow IoC's ML bench through training, coaching, and recruitment.
• Lead effectively in a matrixed environment, influencing technical direction and aligning priorities across ML programs.

Benefits

• The hiring range for Redwood City, CA: Director: $297,400 - $381,300 Senior Director $366,800- $470,200
• The hiring range for San Diego, CA: Director: $273,900- $351,100 Senior Director $337,700- $432,900
• Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree