Head of Bioengineering

About us e184 Artificial Womb is a biotechnology research company dedicated to advancing next-generation artificial reproductive technologies that support human development beyond traditional biological limitations, expanding reproductive possibilities and redefining what is achievable in medicine. Our mission is to remove the biological constraints that limit the ability to achieve and sustain safe pregnancies and healthy gestation, enabling new pathways to parenthood for individuals facing medical risk, infertility, or physiological barriers to gestation. We operate at the intersection of biology, engineering, and computational science, building integrated platforms that combine advanced tissue models, adaptive culture systems, and automated experimental workflows to understand and recreate the conditions required for healthy human gestation beyond the uterus. Role overview As Chief Technology Officer at e184 Artificial Womb lab, you will lead the technical vision, architecture, and execution of the engineering platforms that enable long-term ex utero biological support. You will design and oversee the development of integrated systems spanning perfusion, sensing, automation, control architecture, and mechanical infrastructure required for artificial gestation technologies. Working closely with the CSO and executive leadership, you will translate biological requirements into scalable engineering solutions, guiding the design of closed-loop systems capable of maintaining stable physiological environments over extended developmental periods. You will build and lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization while establishing rigorous systems-engineering practices that ensure reliability, safety, and manufacturability. This role is ideal for a deeply technical systems thinker who is excited to solve one of the most complex engineering challenges in modern medicine — building synthetic environments capable of supporting human development — within a fast-moving, mission-driven startup environment. What you’ll do Architect integrated biological systems: Define and lead the development of the company’s core technology platform, integrating fluidic, mechanical, sensing, and computational subsystems into cohesive, reliable ex utero support systems. Design long-term perfusion and support platforms: Lead engineering design of perfusion architectures, oxygenation systems, mechanical assemblies, and environmental control systems required for stable long-duration biological support. Implement systems engineering rigor: Apply closed-loop design principles, redundancy strategies, and failure-mode analysis to ensure robustness, safety, and continuous operation of complex biological platforms. Develop sensing and control infrastructure: Oversee integration of biosensors, optical monitoring, embedded systems, and real-time data acquisition pipelines enabling adaptive environmental control and automated experimentation. Lead engineering execution: Build, mentor, and guide multidisciplinary engineering teams across mechanical, electrical, software, and computational domains while fostering technical excellence and collaborative problem solving. Translate biology into engineering: Partner closely with scientific teams to convert physiological and developmental requirements into engineering specifications and data-driven design decisions. Drive technical strategy and delivery: Establish technical roadmaps, manage engineering milestones, and communicate progress and strategy to executive leadership. Enable scalable manufacturing: Guide system design toward manufacturability, reliability, and regulatory readiness, supporting future clinical translation. Core requirements PhD or advanced degree in engineering, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, or a related field (or equivalent industry experience) 7+ years of post-graduate research or industry experience developing complex integrated engineering or medical device systems Strong expertise in systems engineering and closed-loop system design Deep knowledge of fluid mechanics and perfusion system engineering, including flow control, shear stress considerations, and long-term sterile circulation Experience designing and integrating medical or bioengineering hardware platforms Proficiency with sensor integration, embedded systems, and computer-controlled instrumentation Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and managing complex engineering projects from concept through implementation Ability to operate both strategically and hands‑on within a fast‑paced startup environment You’ll stand out with Systems engineering principles and architecture Closed-loop systems and control design Failure‑mode analysis and redundancy planning Fluid mechanics and pump/flow control strategies Oxygenator and gas‑exchange technologies Medical device and mechanical system design Biosensors, optical monitoring, and signal filtering Real‑time data acquisition and control systems Precision and sterile manufacturing environments Automation and AI‑driven experimental systems Control theory and reinforcement learning concepts Biomaterials, hydrogel systems, and ECM mechanics Surface coatings and fouling prevention strategies Biocompatibility and protein adsorption dynamics Regulatory translation, including FDA medical device pathways ISO 13485 and ISO 14971 quality and risk standards Why e184? Unrivaled impact: Your work directly enables technology that transforms human fertility and reproductive medicine. Full‑spectrum growth: Gain exposure to the entire lifecycle of discovery. From screening to mechanistic validation. Best of both worlds: Experience the creative chaos of an early‑stage startup with the stability of a well‑capitalized company. Elite collaboration: Work alongside a world‑class team who are as driven as you are. What we offer Competitive salary + equity participation is considered State‑of‑the‑art facility in Portland metro area Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401(k) with company match 20 days PTO + 11 paid holidays Disclaimer The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Responsibilities and duties may change or be adjusted to meet the needs of the company, and additional duties may be assigned as necessary. The job description is subject to change at any time at the discretion of e184. #J-18808-Ljbffr