ARPA-H Senior Scientist / Engineer (Regenerative Medicine & Advanced Biological Systems)
About The Position
The Senior Scientist/Engineer serves as a trusted scientific and technical advisor to the ARPA-H Program Manager and program team, helping develop, fund, and manage ambitious research initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes. The role spans regenerative medicine, biological systems, autonomous experimentation, high-throughput screening, sensors, and advanced research platforms. It supports R&D programs including COSMOS (Comprehensive Organ System Modeling in Outer Space), which seeks to determine whether low Earth orbit accelerates aging and to establish U.S. leadership in the low Earth orbit biotechnology domain. Working independently and as part of an established team, the Senior Scientist/Engineer critically assesses research data, evaluates research progress, and translates complex findings into actionable information for technical and non-technical audiences. The role contributes to evaluating tissue aging across brain, heart, uterine, and kidney models, and, if accelerated aging is demonstrated, supporting the development of an autonomous, high-throughput drug-screening platform in low Earth orbit. The position also supports coordination across in vitro models, autonomous R&D hardware, launch vehicles, and biopharma, with the goal of encouraging sustainable public- and private-sector investment in space biotechnology. The position is full-time, based in the Arlington/DC area in Arlington, Virginia, and has a day shift. It requires travel within the continental United States as needed, approximately 10–20%.
Requirements
- PhD in biomedical sciences, preferably in biomedical engineering, biochemistry, biomaterials, cell biology, regenerative medicine, cancer biology, or a related field.
- Experience in biomedical engineering strategy.
- Five years of industry experience, such as in biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies.
- Two to three years of prior government experience.
- Some experience with regulatory affairs in regenerative medicine.
- Advanced scientific or engineering expertise in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, organoids, microphysiological systems (organ-on-chip), aging biology, or related biomedical sciences.
- Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, including keyboard shortcuts and the ability to create slides and spreadsheets in real time during high-pressure meetings.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Professional curiosity, a continuous drive to learn, and the ability to focus on assigned tasks.
- Ability to obtain a federal government Public Trust clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Basic and applied research experience and prior support to Program Managers in an R&D environment.
- Experience with space-based research, microgravity biology, autonomous laboratory systems, or low Earth orbit operations; advantageous but not required.
- Experience designing or evaluating complex preclinical models, translational research, and quantitative biological experiments, particularly involving multiple tissue systems or therapeutic development pathways.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate the scientific and R&D landscape to identify research portfolio gaps and critical needs aligned with the ARPA-H mission.
- Monitor and track performers’ progress against established metrics.
- Synthesize complex information and develop briefings for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Collect, sort, and analyze information and prepare internal programmatic reports and briefings on health-related topics.
- Support the ARPA-H Program Manager and program team in developing, funding, and managing research initiatives.
- Support research efforts to assess whether tissue aging accelerates in low Earth orbit across brain, heart, uterine, and kidney models.
- Support the development of an autonomous, high-throughput drug-screening platform in low Earth orbit if accelerated aging is demonstrated.
- Travel within the continental United States as needed to support programs and the Program Manager, approximately 10–20%.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
