Director of Artificial Intelligence

Robots Opentrons Flex OT-2 Compare Pipettes Flex Pipettes Flex 96-Channel Pipette OT-2 Pipettes Workstations Flex NGS Flex PCR Flex Nucleic Acid Extraction Flex Magnetic Bead Protein Purification Flex Aliquoting OT-2 NGS OT-2 PCR OT-2 Nucleic Acid Extraction OT-2 Magnetic Bead Protein Purification OT-2 Dual Flow Chromatography Protein Purification Modules Magnetic Block Thermocycler Module Temperature Module Magnetic Module HEPA Module Heater-Shaker Module Gripper All Modules Tips & Labware Services Go to Shop NGS Nucleic Acid Extraction PCR Protein Purification ELISA View All OEM Partnerships Education Knowledge Hub Customer Stories Citations Getting Started FAQs Mission Events & Webinars News Careers Contact Us Protocol Designer Protocol Library Python API Labware Library GitHub OT App Schedule a Demo Contact Sales Opentrons Labworks Careers Company CultureAbout UsWhy Work HereView Open Positions ← Back to Current Openings Director of Artificial Intelligence Long Island City, New York Apply Description Position at Opentrons Job Title: Director of AI Department: Software FLSA Classification: Exempt Reports to: VP of Engineering Direct Reports: Yes Location: Onsite at Innolabs - Long Island City, NY Must reside in a commutable distance to NYC About Us Opentrons Labworks, Inc. is a disruptive life science company leveraging its integrated lab platform to supercharge the pace of innovation in research and healthcare. Through Opentrons Robotics, thousands of institutions are automating lab operations with flexible, easy-to-use liquid handling lab robots. With our own cutting-edge R&D team, biopharma and biotech at large can also benefit from our world-class genome-scale cell engineering solutions. If you are looking for your next great role, come join us! We provide excellent benefits, competitive compensation, equity packages, and opportunities for growth. Learn more on our Careers Website. About The Role We are seeking a Director of AI to lead the next phase of OpentronsAI strategy and platform capabilities. This role will focus on advancing AI-powered experiences across our robotics and software ecosystem, with particular emphasis on generative AI, intelligent workflow design, and production-grade AI systems for laboratory automation. The role operates at the intersection of AI research, product strategy, and engineering execution, translating emerging AI capabilities into reliable tools used by scientists in real-world laboratory environments. This is a highly cross-functional role centered on technical vision, roadmap development, hands-on collaboration, and long-term platform strategy. The right candidate will not only set the direction but also expect to roll up their sleeves and execute work personally. The Director of AI will report into the VP of Engineering. What You Would Do Lead AI Product & Platform Strategy: Define and execute Opentrons’ AI roadmap in partnership with software, product management, and engineering leadershipDrive the evolution of AI-powered workflow and protocol generation capabilities across the Opentrons platformBalance near-term product delivery with longer-term research and platform investmentsIdentify opportunities to apply generative AI, ML infrastructure, and intelligent automation to improve the scientist experience Build Production-Grade AI Systems: Lead development of reliable, scalable AI systems that translate natural language inputs into validated laboratory workflows and protocolsEstablish best practices for evaluation, validation, trust, and performance of AI systems in production environmentsPartner closely with engineering teams to operationalize AI capabilities across software and robotics productsHelp shape the technical architecture and infrastructure required to support future AI initiatives Drive External Innovation & Thought Leadership: Build strategic relationships with academic institutions, industry partners, and the broader AI ecosystemSupport collaborative research, technical partnerships, and recruiting pipelines for top AI talentRepresent Opentrons externally through conferences, publications, panels, and industry engagementHelp position Opentrons as a leader in AI-enabled laboratory automation and intelligent scientific systems Management Lead & work with a small team of engineers and developers to build Opentrons’ AI- and ML-based product portfolioStructure processes and interaction models with other departments and stakeholdersBuild and expand the team as needed and funded by company goalsPotential expansion into AI driven cyberphysical systemExperience building Physical AI team Who We Are Looking For Experience: Proven professional experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or applied research and engineering environmentsExperience designing AI systems with a strong focus on reliability, validation, usability, and operational performanceProven track record of delivering AI-powered products from concept through production deployment and ongoing iterationExperience working across multidisciplinary organizations spanning software, hardware, and product development Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Strong expertise in generative AI, foundation models, and modern AI/ML infrastructureDeep familiarity with Python-based AI development ecosystems and production AI workflowsAbility to define technical strategy and execute effectively in fast-moving, resource-constrained environmentsStrong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to varied audiencesComfortable operating as both a strategic leader and hands-on technical contributor Nice To Have: Experience within life sciences, laboratory automation, robotics, or scientific software platformsExperience collaborating with academic research institutions or contributing to published researchPrior experience building AI-enabled developer tools, workflow systems, or no-code platforms Working Conditions and Physical Effort Work is performed in a typical interior/office work environmentProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computerLimited physical effort required Compensation Range: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $265,000 and $295,000 per year. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience. We typically target mid-range for well-qualified candidates. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including bonus, equity and full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. Following employment, growth beyond the hiring range is possible based on performance. Opentrons Labworks Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected for the requisition or the requisition has a sufficient number of applications. Apply Apply Later ← Back to Current Openings Share LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email Similar Jobs Return To... Company Culture Powered by Jobvite Opentrons Careers Company CultureAbout UsWhy Work HereView Open Positions ← Back to Current Openings Director of Artificial Intelligence Long Island City, New York Apply Drive External Innovation & Thought Leadership: Build strategic relationships with academic institutions, industry partners, and the broader AI ecosystemSupport collaborative research, technical partnerships, and recruiting pipelines for top AI talentRepresent Opentrons externally through conferences, publications, panels, and industry engagementHelp position Opentrons as a leader in AI-enabled laboratory automation and intelligent scientific systems Management Lead & work with a small team of engineers and developers to build Opentrons’ AI- and ML-based product portfolioStructure processes and interaction models with other departments and stakeholdersBuild and expand the team as needed and funded by company goalsPotential expansion into AI driven cyberphysical systemExperience building Physical AI team Who We Are Looking For Nice To Have: Experience within life sciences, laboratory automation, robotics, or scientific software platformsExperience collaborating with academic research institutions or contributing to published researchPrior experience building AI-enabled developer tools, workflow systems, or no-code platforms Working Conditions and Physical Effort Work is performed in a typical interior/office work environmentProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computerLimited physical effort required Compensation Range: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $265,000 and $295,000 per year. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience. We typically target mid-range for well-qualified candidates. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including bonus, equity and full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. Following employment, growth beyond the hiring range is possible based on performance. Opentrons Labworks Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected for the requisition or the requisition has a sufficient number of applications. Apply Apply Later ← Back to Current Openings Share LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email Similar Jobs Drive External Innovation & Thought Leadership: Build strategic relationships with academic institutions, industry partners, and the broader AI ecosystemSupport collaborative research, technical partnerships, and recruiting pipelines for top AI talentRepresent Opentrons externally through conferences, publications, panels, and industry engagementHelp position Opentrons as a leader in AI-enabled laboratory automation and intelligent scientific systems Management Lead & work with a small team of engineers and developers to build Opentrons’ AI- and ML-based product portfolioStructure processes and interaction models with other departments and stakeholdersBuild and expand the team as needed and funded by company goalsPotential expansion into AI driven cyberphysical systemExperience building Physical AI team Who We Are Looking For Nice To Have: Experience within life sciences, laboratory automation, robotics, or scientific software platformsExperience collaborating with academic research institutions or contributing to published researchPrior experience building AI-enabled developer tools, workflow systems, or no-code platforms Working Conditions and Physical Effort Work is performed in a typical interior/office work environmentProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computerLimited physical effort required Compensation Range: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $265,000 and $295,000 per year. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and years of experience. We typically target mid-range for well-qualified candidates. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including bonus, equity and full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. Following employment, growth beyond the hiring range is possible based on performance. Opentrons Labworks Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected for the requisition or the requisition has a sufficient number of applications.