Head of IT

Bioptimus is building the first universal AI foundation model for biology to fuel breakthrough discoveries and accelerate innovation in biomedicine. With more than $75M in funding, Bioptimus is a fast-growing start-up headquartered in Paris, incorporated in October 2023. Backed by leading international venture capitalists, our world-class team of scientists and engineers is redefining the frontiers of AI and life sciences. 

The Opportunity

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Head of IT to architect and lead our corporate technology infrastructure. Reporting to the COO, you will be responsible for building the secure, scalable, and resilient IT backbone that empowers our entire organization. This is a foundational leadership role where you will define the strategy for corporate cloud services, cybersecurity, and employee enablement, ensuring our operations are as robust and innovative as our science.

What You'll Be Doing

As our Head of IT, you will have ownership over the following strategic domains:

• Corporate IT & Security Architecture:
  • Design and execute the roadmap for Bioptimus's corporate IT infrastructure, including cloud services (SaaS, IaaS), networking, and identity management.
  • Architect and implement a multi-layered security program to protect our intellectual property and corporate data.
• Compliance & Risk Management:
  • Lead the company through key compliance milestones, establishing the controls and documentation necessary to achieve certifications such as SOC 2 and/or ISO 27001.
  • Translate complex security and data protection requirements (GDPR) into actionable policies and technical controls.
• IT Operations & Employee Enablement:
  • Oversee hardware procurement, device management (MDM), and employee onboarding/offboarding processes.
  • Implement and manage the core suite of business applications that drive company productivity.
• Team Leadership & Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and grow the IT team, starting with our Cloud Engineer.
  • Define roles, set priorities, and manage the team's performance and professional growth.

What You'll Bring

The successful candidate is a strategic thinker and a pragmatic builder, with a proven track record of scaling IT and security functions in a high-growth, technology-driven environment.

• IT Experience:
  • 8+ years of experience in IT, with at least 3-4 years in a leadership role where you were responsible for setting strategy and managing a team in a fast-growing tech company.
• Cloud & Infrastructure Expertise:
  • Deep, hands-on experience managing AWS-based corporate cloud environments.
  • Experience with identity and access management (IAM), networking, and infrastructure-as-code principles.
• Security & Compliance Mastery:
  • Demonstrable experience building a corporate security program from the ground up.
  • You have successfully led an organization through at least one major compliance audit (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001). A relevant certification (e.g., CISSP, CISM) is a strong plus.
• Automation Mindset:
  • You have a proven ability to automate IT operations, from employee onboarding to security monitoring and response, reducing manual overhead and improving reliability.
• Business Acumen:
  • You are skilled at communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, managing a budget effectively, and aligning IT initiatives with strategic business goals.
• Startup Mentality:
  • You are comfortable with ambiguity and thrive in a fast-paced environment where you are required to be both a strategist and a hands-on implementer.

How to Stand Out:

• You were the first IT/Security hire in a previous role and successfully built the function from the ground up.
• You have previously built and managed the IT function in an AI, biotech, or other deep-tech research environment and understand its unique security and operational needs.
• You have hands-on experience designing and implementing a zero-trust security architecture.
• You have experience managing IT for a company with significant operations in both Europe and the United States.

The Candidate Journey

To be considered, please submit your CV in English. We believe in a transparent and collaborative interview process. Here is what you can expect after submitting your application:

• Screening: Once you have applied, the hiring team will review your application. If your experience and skills align with the role, you will be invited to a 30-minute introductory call with the Hiring Manager to discuss your background, motivations, and the position in more detail.
• Interviews:

  • Technical Case Study: The next stage is a 45-minute technical case study. You will be expected to showcase your past experience in Cybersecurity or Data. The conversation will explore your views on key strategic topics, including:

    • Implementing a data strategy for biological data.

    • Navigating the trade-offs between robust security and fast-paced growth.

    • Methodologies for securing high-performance compute environments and sensitive data.

  • Final Interviews: The last step involves two final conversations to ensure comprehensive alignment:

    • External Stakeholder Interview: A 30-minute discussion to discuss the current technical setup and infrastructure.

    • Leadership Interview: A final 30-minute conversation to discuss your vision for the role and ensure cultural fit.

• Offer: Following the completion of all interviews, our hiring team will make a final decision and will be in touch to share the outcome. If the team would like to move forward, we will contact you to discuss the details of our proposed offer. Please note that an offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a reference check.
• Onboarding: We are happy to have you joining the team! Once you have accepted and signed your offer, we will be in touch to begin the process of onboarding you.

Why This is a Unique Opportunity

• Reporting to the COO, you will have the autonomy to select the tools, design the processes, and shape the culture of technology and security at Bioptimus.
• In addition to a competitive compensation package, you will have a meaningful stake in the company's future, ensuring your contributions are directly aligned with our long-term value and success.
• Your work will be critical to enabling the entire organisation to scale securely and efficiently, directly impacting our ability to achieve our mission.
• Build a world-class IT function to support our mission of shaping the future of AI-driven biology

We believe that the unique contributions of all Bioptimists create our success. To ensure that our culture continues to incorporate everyone’s perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, or disability status. Decisions related to hiring are made fairly, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates. We take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome.