Principal Biology Specialist

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Principal Biology Specialist to join a leader in Technical Services. This senior role serves as a technical authority for complex biological risk assessments in an AI-enabled environment, mentoring a team and refining investigative approaches.

This remote U.S. position offers $150,000–$220,000 annually. A relevant advanced degree, extensive biodefense experience, and unrestricted U.S. work authorization are required.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences.
• 9+ years of biodefense or biosecurity policy experience.
• Deep familiarity with national and international biosecurity frameworks.
• Proven track record of leading technical teams in high-stakes environments.
• Unrestricted work authorization in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Act as final escalation authority for high-consequence cases.
• Set standards for distinguishing legitimate inquiry from misuse.
• Deliver high-fidelity, peer-reviewed ground-truth labels for AI classifiers.
• Refine investigative playbooks and advise on evolving biotechnology capabilities.
• Mentor and technically direct a team of Biology Specialists.
• Synthesize technical findings into actionable risk memos for clients.

Skills

Leadership

Biodefense policy

Life-science protocols

Technical communication

Team mentoring

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in life sciences

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Principal Biology Specialist to join the team of a leader in the Technical Services space.

This role will serve as a senior technical authority supporting complex biological risk assessments in a high-stakes, AI-enabled environment. You will help define standards for evaluating ambiguous scientific activity, distinguish legitimate research from potential misuse, and produce trusted technical judgments that inform client decisions. The position also involves mentoring a team of biology specialists and refining internal investigative approaches as biotechnology capabilities continue to evolve.

Location: Remote

Compensation: $150,000 – $220,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Act as the final escalation authority for ambiguous, high-consequence cases
• Set standards for distinguishing legitimate scientific inquiry from misuse
• Deliver high-fidelity, peer-reviewed ground-truth labels for AI classifiers
• Refine investigative playbooks and advise on evolving biotechnology capabilities
• Mentor and technically direct a team of Biology Specialists
• Synthesize technical findings into actionable risk memos for clients

Qualifications

• Advanced Degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in a relevant life-sciences discipline
• 9+ years of experience in biodefense or biosecurity policy
• Exceptional fluency in life-science research protocols
• Deep familiarity with national and international biosecurity frameworks
• Proven track record of leading technical teams in high-stakes environments
• Exceptional communication skills for conveying complex microbiological principles
• Unrestricted work authorization in the United States

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.