Associate Director of Controls Engineering

Company Summary

Flagship Labs 97 Inc. (FL97) is a privately held, early-stage technology company pioneering the application of artificial intelligence to transform every aspect of the scientific method. FL97 is backed by Flagship Pioneering, which brings the courage, long-term vision, and resources needed to realize unreasonable results. Join our mission-driven team and contribute to the future of science.

Our Life Sciences effort is leveraging AI and high-throughput automation for valuable therapeutic discovery and development across biological modalities.

At FL97, we are uniquely cross-functional and collaborative. We are actively reimagining the way teams work together and communicate. Therefore, we seek individuals with an inclusive mindset and a diversity of thought. Our teams thrive in unstructured and creative environments. All voices are heard because we know that experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way.

If this sounds like an environment you’d love to work in, even if you only have some of the experience listed below, please apply.

The Role:

FL97 is seeking a thoughtful and dynamic Associate Director of Controls Engineering to join our team. This role will help shape our controls engineering efforts by leading an exceptional team, setting standards for control systems, and building innovative solutions for SCADA systems such as environmental monitoring systems. This position reports to the Senior Director of Hardware Engineering.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a team of engineers in the development and implementation of control systems across our robotics, SCADA and hardware platforms.
• Establish and enforce industry-leading standards for control systems to ensure consistency, reliability, and performance.
• Spearhead the design and development of Environmental Monitoring Systems to enhance our technological capabilities.
• Experience working with FastAPI/REST APIs.
• Experience designing, implementing, and testing safety systems.
• Troubleshoot and optimize workflows and instruments related to control systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences and Process Automation/Engineering to integrate and optimize control systems within product architectures.
• Mentor and develop engineering team members, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Act as a lead during the execution of engineering projects and programs.
• Oversee CAPEX management for controls engineering, maintain vendor relationships, and oversee budget requests.
• Assist in strategy and planning for new and existing automated and autonomous workflows deeply integrated with AI.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and safety regulations in all control systems and related documentation.
• Demonstrate clear and effective communication skills in reporting progress and challenges to senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in controls engineering, with a significant portion in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing and mentoring engineering teams.
• Experience with the design and implementation of control theory, motion control, and automation systems.
• Strong background in data science and computation, with familiarity in using tools such as Python, OOP, or equivalent.
• Experience with programming PLC controls for use in industrial or laboratory applications.
• Experience with environmental monitoring technologies and methods.
• Comfort with manipulations at small scale (1mm) or working with low tolerances.
• Demonstrated innovation in control systems design and integration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience interfacing with laboratory devices in materials or biological sciences.
• Experience with both Building Automation and Hardware Automation a plus.
• Background in signal processing and uncertainty quantification.
• Background with custom PCB design, custom.

Competencies:

• Ability to balance strategic thinking while executing detailed tasks and solutions.
• Ability to make decisions while working in a fast paced environment.

Working at FL97, you would have access to advanced technology in the areas of: 

• AI experimental design and simulation 
• Automated custom instrumentation 
• Generative molecular and material design 

About Flagship

Flagship Pioneering is a platform innovation company that invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health or sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated and fostered more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in more than $90 billion in aggregate value. Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.  Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

At Flagship, we recognize there is no perfect candidate. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. Experience comes in many forms, skills are transferable, and passion goes a long way. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your unique background.