Associate, Company Origination

About the role

At Flagship Pioneering, we don’t wait for the future—we build it. Our origination model is like a startup foundry for breakthrough science and technology: we dream up bold ideas, pressure-test them fast, and launch entirely new ventures from scratch. Think of it as startup creation in extreme mode—where the whiteboard is blank, the questions are audacious, and the upside is industry-shaping.

Key responsibilities

• Explore white spaces: Identify and investigate emerging frontiers in AI, computation, and technology that could unlock entirely new markets and industries
• Hypothesize & stress-test: Generate bold venture hypotheses, run rapid experiments (conceptual, computational, or prototype-driven), and rigorously pressure-test assumptions
• Design venture blueprints: Help translate early-stage concepts into venture designs—including technical thesis, product architecture, and potential go-to-market approaches
• Shape new companies: Contribute directly to the conception and launch of high-potential ventures, with a hands-on role in their earliest stages
• Collaborate across disciplines: Work closely with scientists, engineers, product thinkers, and entrepreneurs to fuse technical insights with market potential
• Synthesize insights: Translate complex technical trends into clear, actionable insights for Flagship’s venture creation process
• Push the frontier: Stay ahead of emerging AI and tech advances, bringing creativity and critical thinking to areas others overlook

Professional experience & qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent experience) in a technical, scientific, or quantitative field — particularly among engineering, applied physics, medical devices, chemistry, and related disciplines. We welcome diverse academic backgrounds that bring new ways of thinking
• 2+ years of experience in research, technology, startups, or other environments that demand both analytical rigor and creative problem-solving
• Demonstrated ability to build or develop technically challenging projects—whether in academia, industry, or entrepreneurial settings
• Comfort working across disciplines and rapidly learning unfamiliar technical domains
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling written narratives and presentations
• Proven ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving, entrepreneurial contexts; able to prioritize, pivot, and push forward without a playbook
• Genuine passion for innovation, venture creation, and exploring uncharted technological spaces

About Flagship Pioneering

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Privacy Notice for Applicants: When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact privacy@flagshippioneering.com.