Equity+Salary, First Hire) Head of Research and Development (R&D)​/Chief Scientific Officer (CSO

We're looking for the person who will own the science and the path from lab bench to commercial use. This is an important seat in the company — you'll report directly to the CEO, sit on the founding leadership team, and build the R&D function from the ground up.

We're a stealth-stage company building next-generation extracellular matrix (ECM) based therapeutics for soft tissue regeneration. Our technology has been validated by federal technology transfer/commercialization awards.

Working with the CEO and advisors, you'll be the person who is a hands-on leader who can write the grant on Monday, troubleshoot a scale-up batch on Wednesday, mentor technical staff on experiments on Thursday, and synthesize inputs of regulatory consultant, IP lawyer, and external advisors to come with the strategy and timeline on Friday.

If you've spent your career wanting to run the whole technical show at a company small enough that your decisions actually matter and to help steer the business while you're at it, this is that.

• Develop the R&D roadmap. Work with the CEO to set the scientific direction, develop target product profile and bring in the non-dilutive money to fund it.
• Take our process from benchtop to clinical scale. Move our core processes from small-batch lab work toward scale-up manufacturing. Own tech transfer, process validation, and the relationships with CDMO partners.
• Drive product development and IP. Work with the CEO to synthesize inputs from advisors, regulatory consultants, and IP counsel to develop and execute product development strategy.
• Build the team and be a founding voice. Hire the first scientists and engineers while staying hands-on at the bench to generate value-creating data and sit in the room for strategy, fundraising, and the big bets, not just the technical ones.

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred, or MS with serious depth) in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, or a closely related field.
• Grant‑writing experience. You have grant‑writing experience in, ideally SBIR/STTR or other non‑dilutive sources.
• Experience with manufacturing. Hands‑on experience with benchtop processes and/or pilot‑scale manufacturing. Familiarity with what breaks when you go from 10 mL to 10 L, the validation and tech‑transfer processes.
• Ideally ECM / extracellular matrix background but not required. Decellularization, scaffolds, collagen and biomaterials, tissue engineering
• Startup‑shaped. Comfortable with ambiguity, light on ego, allergic to bureaucracy. You're fine being the person who does the work and the person who decides what work gets done.

• Experience interfacing with the FDA or navigating regulatory pathways for biologics or combination products.
• Prior early‑stage / founding‑team experience.
• IP in the regenerative medicine / tissue regeneration space.

These aren't poster slogans; they're how we actually operate, and we hire for them:

• Outlearn yourself. Share generously.
• Take ownership. Stay collaborative.
• Never done. Never give up.
• Be transparent with people. Be honest with data.

• Real ownership. You're not slotting into someone else's org chart. You're building it.
• Equity and compensation. You will be compensated and incentivized based on the job and responsibilities.
• Proximity to the decisions. Direct line to the CEO, a seat in every conversation that shapes where the early‑stage company goes.
• Work that makes impact directly attributable to you. The thing you build helps people heal and you can see the impact you directly create.

We're an equal opportunity employer.