Head of Infrastructure

Bioptimus is building the first universal AI foundation model for biology to fuel breakthrough discoveries and accelerate innovation in biomedicine. With more than $75M in funding, Bioptimus is a fast-growing start-up headquartered in Paris, incorporated in October 2023. Backed by leading international venture capitalists, our world-class team of scientists and engineers is redefining the frontiers of AI and life sciences. 

As our Head of Infrastructure & Security, you will have ownership over the following strategic domains:

Strategic IT Leadership:

• Define the vision and strategy for the company's IT infrastructure and policies, aligning it with organizational goals to build a hypergrowth, sustainable and secure deeptech business
• Own direction for key domains: cloud engineering, data management, security, and IT services.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to identify technology needs and prioritize projects.

Cloud and Computing Infrastructure:

• Design, implement, and optimize scalable and cost-efficient cloud and computing solutions to support our multi-modal foundation model training and deployment
• Establish robust practices for cloud infrastructure monitoring, performance tuning, and cost management.

Security and Compliance:

• Implement comprehensive security protocols to safeguard company data, IP, and systems.
• Ensure practical and efficient roll out of security compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., ISO, GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2).

Data Management:

• Develop a reliable and secure data infrastructure to support large-scale AI model training and deployment.
• Establish policies and tools for effective data storage, retrieval, and usage.

IT Operations and Support:

• Oversee company-wide IT services, including hardware procurement, employee onboarding, and IT support.
• Implement and maintain internal tools and systems to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

Team Development:

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing IT team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning within the IT function.

The successful candidate is a strategic thinker and a pragmatic builder, with a proven track record of scaling IT and security functions in a high-growth, technology-driven environment.

IT Experience: 

• 8+ years of experience in IT, with at least 3-4 years in a leadership role where you were responsible for setting strategy and managing a team in a fast-growing tech company.

Cloud & Infrastructure Expertise:

• Deep, hands-on experience managing AWS-based corporate cloud environments.
• Experience with identity and access management (IAM), networking, and infrastructure-as-code principles.

Security & Compliance Mastery:

• Demonstrable experience building a corporate security program from the ground up.
• You have successfully led an organization through at least one major compliance audit (e.g., SOC 2, ISO A relevant certification (e.g., CISSP, CISM) is a strong plus.

Automation Mindset: 

• You have a proven ability to automate IT operations, from employee onboarding to security monitoring and response, reducing manual overhead and improving reliability.

Business Acumen: 

• You are skilled at communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, managing a budget effectively, and aligning IT initiatives with strategic business goals.

Startup Mentality: 

• You are comfortable with ambiguity and thrive in a fast-paced environment where you are required to be both a strategist and a hands-on implementer.

• You were the first IT/Security hire in a previous role and successfully built the function from the ground up.
• You have previously built and managed the IT function in an AI, biotech, or other deep-tech research environment and understand its unique security and operational needs.
• You have hands-on experience designing and implementing a zero-trust security architecture.
• You have experience managing IT for a company with significant operations in both Europe and the United States.

To be considered, please submit your CV in English.

We believe in a transparent and collaborative interview process. Here is what you can expect after submitting your application:

• Screening: Once you have applied, the hiring team will review your application. If your experience and skills align with the role, you will be invited to a 30-minute introductory call with the Hiring Manager to discuss your background, motivations, and the position in more detail.
• Technical Assessment (1 hour): Given the technical nature of the role, you will be invited to complete a timed technical assessment on a dedicated platform. This stage consists of a short set exercises designed to assess your proficiency with our Tech Stack (AWS, Docker).
• Interviews: Following a successful technical assessment, you will be invited to a series of interviews. The core stages of our process are outlined below. Please note that the order may be adapted and additional conversations may be included to ensure a comprehensive evaluation
  • Technical Case Study (60 min): Showcase your experience in Cybersecurity and Data Management. We'll explore your approach to key strategic challenges, including implementing data strategies for biological research, balancing security with rapid organizational growth, and securing compute infrastructure and sensitive data.
  • Internal Infrastructure Interview (60 min): Discuss our current technical setup and infrastructure with members of our Tech team responsible for the areas within this role's scope.
  • Final Interview (30 min): Meet with senior leadership to discuss your vision for the role and explore cultural alignment.
• Offer: Following the completion of all interviews, our hiring team will make a final decision and will be in touch to share the outcome. If the team would like to move forward, we will contact you to discuss the details of our proposed offer. Please note that an offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a reference check.
• Onboarding: We are happy to have you joining the team. Once you have accepted and signed your offer, we will be in touch to begin the process of onboarding you.

• Reporting to the COO, you will have the autonomy to select the tools, design the processes, and shape the culture of technology and security at Bioptimus.
• In addition to a competitive compensation package, you will have a meaningful stake in the company's future, ensuring your contributions are directly aligned with our long-term value and success.
• Your work will be critical to enabling the entire organisation to scale securely and efficiently, directly impacting our ability to achieve our mission.
• Build a world-class IT function to support our mission of shaping the future of AI-driven biology

We believe that the unique contributions of all Bioptimists create our success. To ensure that our culture continues to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, or disability status. Decisions related to hiring are made fairly, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates. We take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome.