Business Operations, Product & Science

Business Operations

Periodic Labs sits at the intersection of frontier AI and physical science — and the operational challenges we face reflect that complexity. As Business Operations, you will be the connective tissue between our research teams, our model development roadmap, and the broader strategic and operational needs of the company. You will work cross functionally to accelerate the translation of scientific progress into outcomes that matter.

This is a high-ownership role for someone who can operate in deeply technical environments without being a researcher themselves — someone who understands how science gets done, how AI models get built, and what it takes to build the organizational systems that allow both to happen faster. You will help with product-science coordination, and serve as a trusted strategic partner to leadership on the decisions that shape our trajectory.

The ideal candidate has a graduate-level scientific background — physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field — combined with meaningful experience in strategy, operations, or product roles at a technology or research organization. You think rigorously, communicate exceptionally, and have a rare ability to earn the trust of both scientists and executives.

You will thrive in this role if you have an undergraduate or graduate degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, computational science, or a closely related quantitative discipline — or equivalent depth demonstrated through research or industry experience. You should have 7+ years of experience in strategy, operations, product management, chief-of-staff, or a closely related function — with at least some of that time spent inside a technical, research-driven, or AI organization.

Especially strong candidates may also have a PhD in a physical science or engineering discipline with research experience at the boundary of computation and experiment — molecular simulation, condensed matter, materials informatics, or similar. They should have prior experience in a research operations, technical program management, or science strategy role at an AI lab, national lab, or research-intensive technology company.

Our lab is located in Menlo Park and we prefer folks to be located in Menlo Park or San Francisco but can be flexible based on role. The annual compensation range for this role is approximately $250,000-$300,000. We sponsor visas and will do everything we can to assist in this process with our legal support.

We're building a team of the world's best — the scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers who don't just follow the frontier, they define it. If you're driven to bring AI to life in the physical world and make discoveries that have never been made before, you belong here.