Chief Scientific / Medical Officer (Stealth Photonic Bio-sensing Venture) in London

We are an early-stage deep-tech photonic bio-sensing company combining silicon photonics, micro-fluidics, and applied AI to bring high-end optical diagnostics out of the central lab and onto a low-cost disposable chip plus a compact reader. The first product is a point-of-care diagnostic addressing a multi-billion dollar clinical market currently served by hand-aligned, six-figure bench-top instruments.

The mission is to provide clinical-grade flow cytometry at the point of care, making it accessible to the 3.7 billion people on the planet who currently lack access to such infrastructure. The convergence of silicon photonics, AI design, and disposable micro-fluidics has made it viable to achieve a 90-second result for £5.

Your role involves owning the clinical and scientific story end-to-end. You will decide which biomarkers and clinical questions to pursue and how the company's scientific roadmap evolves over the years.

• Responsibilities:
• Develop the scientific narrative: the biomarker to clinical decision story behind every commercial bet, investor pitch, and grant.
• Establish clinical and research partnerships across haematology, oncology, infectious disease, transplant, and translational research.
• Define assay and panel strategy: determine which markers to ship first and the rationale for clinician acceptance.
• Design clinical evidence and trials in collaboration with regulatory consultants.
• Recruit and chair a Clinical Advisory Board across priority therapy areas.
• Contribute to scientific authorship through publications and grant submissions.
• Frame future scientific direction as the company's roadmap evolves.

This position is London-based, with a preference for hybrid working arrangements.

Your profile should include an MD, PhD, or DPhil in haematology, immunology, clinical pathology, or cancer immunology, along with 5–10 years of industrial experience as CMO/CSO at a diagnostics, cytometry, or cell therapy company.

• Qualities we are looking for:
• Clinical empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.
• Scepticism towards biomarker hype cycles and the ability to discern clinical utility.
• Comfort with the dual pace of science and regulatory processes.
• Intellectual honesty about uncertainty in data.
• Proactive engagement with clinicians and key opinion leaders.
• Long-term vision and patience for pivotal study outcomes.

What We Offer:

• Focus on practical outcomes over perfection.
• Emphasis on metrics and outcomes to guide navigation.
• A willingness to make decisions rather than remain indecisive.
• Encouragement of open communication within the founding team.
• Commitment to compassion and trust over performance incentives.
• Equity opportunities at the founding team level.

About Us: We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We consider all applications equally regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We strongly encourage individuals from groups traditionally underrepresented in tech to apply.