Executive Director - Scientific Computing

Executive Director, Scientific ComputingThe mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.The mission of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is not only to provide state of the art engineering infrastructure to the Allen Institute as a whole, but to also address high-risk, high-reward questions in biology through AI.We are seeking an independent and motivated Executive Director of Scientific Computing to define and execute the long-term scientific computing strategy that powers the Allen Institutes research programs, with a sustainable approach towards democratizing access to data, tools and computing infrastructure for the larger scientific community. Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer, The Executive Director will oversee the development of scalable computing platforms, data infrastructure, and engineering capabilities that support petascale biological datasets and large foundation models.At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.Essential FunctionsDefine and execute the Institutes long-term strategy to scale computing platforms, data infrastructure, and data processing capabilities to support petascale biological dataServe as a senior technology leader, collaborating closely with scientific, operational, and administrative teamsEstablish governance frameworks and best practices for data management, infrastructure usage, and engineering standardsLead institute cloud strategy, ensuring scalability, performance, cost-effectiveness, and alignment to scientific prioritiesOrganize, lead, and/or coordinate the Allen Institutes technology advisory council meetingsBuild and lead a high-performance scientific computing and engineering team that upholds institute values and operational excellenceFoster strategic collaborations with academic institutions, nonprofits, technology companies, and community standards bodies to leverage cutting-edge technologies and strengthen the Allen Institutes role as a life science technology hubEstablish central expertise in extracting features from petascale multimodal biological data, leveraging state-of-the-art methods for images, timeseries, and omics dataBuild and operate performant, configurable data processing pipelines for core data acquisition platforms, ensuring adoption of cloud-native community standard data formatsIdentify and adopt emerging technologies to ensure that Allen Institute stays at the forefront of technology, computing, and AI advancementsPartner with scientific and engineering teams across the Institute to enable breakthrough discovery at the intersection of biology and computation and advancing integrated, multimodal data platforms and resources that support open science and broad community useNote: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects managements assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.Required Education and ExperienceBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of degree and experienceMinimum of 7 years of relevant experience in computer science, data engineering, software development, machine learning or related fieldsProven experience in scaling tools and algorithms for large datasetsStrong expertise in cloud computing, including strategy, deployment, and managementExperience managing and leading engineering teams across multiple departmentsProven excellent strategic and operational planning skillsDemonstrated success in forming and maintaining partnerships with technology companiesStrong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skillsIn-depth understanding of software engineering best practicesExperience in mentoring and career developmentPreferred Education and ExperienceExperience in strategic planning and organizational vision and mission alignment, integrating scientific priorities with enterprise technology capabilities and operational excellenceExperience in integrating multimodal data, AI/ML, and scalable computing into scientific workflowsExtensive experience in managing large-scale and complex technology operations and multi-disciplinary teamsDemonstrated capability in financial planning and oversight, people management, and meeting aggressive timelinesUp-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in data engineeringExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment, and being a spokesperson for the organizationPhysical Demands* Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipmentPosition Type/Expected Hours of Work* This role is currently able to work both remotely and onsite in a hybrid work environment. We are a Washington State employer, and the primary work location for all Allen Institute employees is 615 Westlake Ave N.; any remote work must be performed in Washington State.Travel* Attendance and participation in national and international conferences as appropriateAdditional Comments* Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance* Please note, this opportunity may offer work visa sponsorshipAnnualized Salary Range$249,500 - $336,850** Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.Benefits* Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institutes 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institutes benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide:?