Director, Nucleic Acid Delivery (AI)

TL;DR

Director, Nucleic Acid Delivery (AI): Leading the discovery and engineering of next-generation targeted lipid nanoparticle systems for nucleic acid therapeutics with an accent on biological targeting and functional delivery. Focus on integrating AI-driven hypothesis generation and robotics-enabled experimentation to accelerate complex discovery cycles for diverse tissue and cell types.

Location: Cambridge, MA, USA (Onsite)

Compensation: $184,000 – $256,000 USD

Company

hirify.global is a scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous lab dedicated to pioneering AI-driven discovery in life sciences, chemistry, and materials science.

What you will do

• Build and lead a high-performing interdisciplinary team of scientists and research associates.
• Drive discovery and engineering of targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP) systems and biological delivery modalities.
• Design targeting ligands, conjugation strategies, and nanoparticle architectures for tissue-specific delivery.
• Implement innovative biological assays and screening platforms to evaluate delivery efficiency and functional activity.
• Collaborate with formulation teams to integrate biological targeting with lipid chemistry and nanoparticle optimization.
• Leverage AI platforms and high-throughput automation to accelerate design-build-test-learn cycles.

Requirements

• PhD in a relevant discipline (molecular biology, bioengineering, pharmacology) with 8-10+ years of experience OR BS/MS with 12-15+ years of experience.
• Deep expertise in nucleic acid delivery systems, lipid nanoparticles, or genetic medicine platforms.
• Proven track record of scientific leadership and managing multidisciplinary research teams.
• Experience designing in vitro and in vivo assays for delivery efficiency, biodistribution, and functional activity.
• Strong understanding of biological mechanisms including cellular uptake, endosomal escape, and intracellular trafficking.
• Ability to translate complex scientific concepts into actionable research programs.

Nice to have

• Direct experience with ligand-directed nanoparticle technologies.
• Expertise in RNA therapeutics, gene editing (e.g., CRISPR/Cas), or DNA therapeutics.
• Experience integrating AI-driven tools or automated laboratory platforms into biological workflows.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for AI-enabled scientific discovery.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Generous early equity.
• Opportunity to work at the intersection of AI, robotics, and biological discovery.
• Collaborative environment spanning biology, chemistry, and computational sciences.
• Focus on solving fundamental challenges in human health and sustainability.