Head of Strain and Metabolic Engineering - Industrial Ingredients start-up

CT19 are working on a retained assignment with an ambitious venture-backed AI-Native Synthetic Biology company, looking for a Senior Strain Engineering Leader to shape both its technology platform and the future of sustainable manufacturing.

This isn't a role where you inherit a mature platform and optimise around the edges, you'll be joining at the point where your decisions will define the scientific direction of the company.

You'll lead a team of talented scientists while remaining deeply hands-on, engineering industrial microbial strains capable of replacing petrochemical manufacturing with sustainable biological production.

The first challenge? Delivering a commercially competitive production strain for a flagship ingredient, while helping build the platform that will unlock an entire pipeline of future products.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Deep expertise in metabolic and industrial strain engineering
• Experience taking engineered microbes beyond the lab with in-depth understanding of commercial and industrial constraints
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing scientific teams
• The mindset to thrive in a high-ownership startup where you'll combine strategy with hands-on execution

You'll work directly with the founders, influence both scientific and company strategy, build a platform from the ground up, and play a pivotal role in scaling a business with ambitions far beyond a single product.

Excellent salary, equity and the opportunity to have a lasting impact on the future of industrial biotechnology.