Senior Director, Data & AI

Terrestrial Bio, Inc.; Woburn (MA); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Terrestrial Bio, Inc. is establishing Data & AI as a dedicated capability, reporting directly to the CEO. Woburn, MA-based role is onsite/hybrid with relocation to Allston in 2026, driving end‑to‑end data strategy and enterprise system selections.

You will build the data ontology, architecture, and AI roadmap, recruit and lead a team, and align data initiatives with R&D, manufacturing, and QA goals to accelerate our pipeline progress.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in data/analytics leadership roles, ideally with 3+ years in biotech/pharma or regulated life sciences.
• Experience building a data function from zero to a functioning team, including hiring and management.
• Working fluency in GxP/regulatory context with data lineage, audit trails, and change control awareness.

Responsibilities

• Own the Data & AI roadmap and budget that aligns with rapid company growth; report to the CEO.
• Design and implement data infrastructure: pipelines, storage, governance across functions.
• Ratify a canonical Data Ontology Dictionary across Research, Development, Manufacturing, QA.
• Design and stand up the data governance charter and RACI across stakeholders.
• Hire, onboard, and manage the Data & AI team.
• Select and oversee integration of MES, ERP, and ELN systems against a single data model.
• Direct the design of an agentic pipeline between Google Drive and SharePoint environments.
• Own the applied-AI governance framework suitable for a GxP-regulated environment.
• Manage vendor relationships and RFPs for data-critical systems like QMS.
• Ensure data systems meet regulatory requirements and data integrity standards.
• Communicate strategy, progress, risks, and issues to executive leadership and board.

Skills

Data leadership

Biotech experience

GxP compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Data governance

Tools

MES

ERP

LIMS/ELN

Tulip

NetSuite

Benchling

Job description

Senior Director, Data & AI

Woburn, MA (on-site/hybrid) — relocating to Allston in Q4 2026

About Terrestrial Bio, Inc.

Terrestrial is transforming the delivery of next-generation therapies, starting with GLP-1.

Terrestrial’s proprietary Tacterra™ microarray patch (MAP) and applicator platform consists of a patch resembling an adhesive bandage, which is applied with a preloaded applicator and removed after a few minutes. Once applied, each patch delivers bioactive tips into the skin, which dissolve quickly into the body, rapidly releasing their therapeutic payload. Designed for self-administration, the temperature-stable Tacterra™ platform enables precise, controlled delivery of a wide range of therapeutics without medical sharps or refrigeration. Terrestrial has generated strong clinical and in-vivo proof of concept across multiple molecules. For more information, visit www.terrestrialbio.com.

Terrestrial Bio is standing up Data & AI as its own business capability — not a sub-function of IT or Operations — reporting directly to the CEO.

Why this role

In this role, you will define our data strategy, build the systems and pipelines we run on, and lead the applied AI work that creates value for scientists, engineers, and business teams. That means building our data ontology, architecture, and applied AI roadmap end to end — and building the team that will execute it. You will also drive selection of core enterprise systems (e.g., MES, ERP, LIMS), manage how data moves through them, and integrate them into a single coherent environment. You will also stand up agentic pipelines: practical automations that support R&D, manufacturing, quality, and corporate teams.

This is a hands-on, build-from-the-ground-up role — working directly with leaders across R&D, manufacturing, clinical/regulatory, quality, and business teams to find where data and technology can move our mission forward faster.

What you'll do

• Own the Data & AI roadmap and budget that aligns with and enables rapid growth of the company and advancement of our pipeline; report progress directly to the CEO

• Design and implement data infrastructure: data pipelines, storage, and governance across functions and projects

• Ratify a canonical Data Ontology Dictionary across Research, Development, Manufacturing, and QA stakeholders, resolving contested definitions (Lot, Batch, Group, Mold/Sample, Experiment ID, Assay/Defect Classification)

• Design and stand up the data governance charter and RACI across all functional stakeholders, ensuring appropriate privacy and security is in place

• Hire, onboard, and manage the Data & AI team

• Select and oversee integration of MES, ERP, and ELN systems (e.g., Tulip, NetSuite, Benchling) against a single governed data model

• Direct the design of an agentic pipeline bridging Research’s Google Drive environment and Development’s SharePoint environment

• Own the applied-AI governance framework: agent design documentation, audit logging, and change control suitable for a GxP-regulated environment

• Manage vendor relationships and RFP processes for QMS and other data-critical systems

• Ensure data systems meet regulatory requirements and data integrity standards

• Communicate data & AI strategy, progress, risks, and issues to executive leadership, including presenting roadmap and team growth plans to the CEO and Board ahead of our Series B close

Who you are

• 8+ years in data/analytics leadership roles, ideally with 3+ years in biotech, pharma, or another regulated life-sciences environment

• Demonstrated experience building a data function from zero to a functioning team, including hiring and management

• Working fluency in GxP/regulatory context — understands why data lineage, audit trails, and change control matter, even without being the compliance owner

• Direct experience with MES, ERP, or LIMS/ELN selection and integration

• Comfortable operating as a peer to functional VPs (Research, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering) while reporting to the CEO

• Experience preparing data/technical materials for institutional fundraising or board reporting

• Excellent written and verbal communication — this role translates between scientists, engineers, and executives daily

• Comfort operating in a fast-moving company where you will build systems and teams, not just manage them

Preferred

• Prior experience with agentic AI/LLM-based data pipelines in a regulated environment

• Familiarity with microneedle array / drug-delivery device manufacturing

• Experience with a prior Series A-to-B company building out its data infrastructure ahead of diligence

How you'll impact

• Canonical Data Ontology Dictionary ratified by both stakeholder groups (term users and term stewards)

• Data governance charter signed by the CEO; RACI covering all 15 named stakeholders

• Data Engineer hired and onboarded

• Tech stack audited and stood up to support current growth phase and beyond

• Pilot of AI agents to support internal R&D, manufacturing, QC, or corporate functions

Compensation:

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $230,000 - $270,000. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Onsite expectations:

The majority of our roles at Terrestrial are either onsite or hybrid, which allows us to meet both business and team needs. Candidates applying must be willing to be onsite 4-5 days per week.

Location:

Woburn, MA and our new, custom facility in Allston MA planned for Q4 of 2026.

At Terrestrial, we’re bringing together exceptional talent to drive our product development forward. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a dynamic work environment. We aim to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or veteran status.