Position: Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Program Manager
Organization: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Location: Arlington, VA
Reporting Relationship: Reports to DARPA Biological Technologies Office (BTO), Director
Website: www.DARPA.mil
Bottom line up front (BLUF)
The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) at DARPA seeks an exceptional Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Program Manager with advanced synthetic biology engineering expertise. This individual will apply rigorous engineering principles to biological systems, driving the design and implementation of genetic circuits, control systems, and engineered metabolic networks. The SynBio PM will conceptualize and execute transformative, high-risk, high-reward programs to engineer predictable, reliable, and scalable biological solutions that deliver strategic advantage to U.S. warfighters.
About DARPA
For over sixty years, DARPA's mission has been to prevent and create strategic surprise for the United States by investing in transformative technologies. Born in the wake of Sputnik's launch in 1957, DARPA has fueled innovation that keeps America ahead, not just responding to strategic shifts but shaping them. Its history includes breakthroughs like stealth technology, precision weapons, the internet, and GPS miniaturization-advances that define both modern warfare and everyday life. Working across academia, industry, and government, DARPA pursues bold, high-risk ideas to deliver fast, game-changing capabilities to U.S. warfighters.
About the Biological Technologies Office (BTO)
As DARPA's newest office, BTO harnesses the unique properties of biology-self-assembly, self-propagation, and emergence-to revolutionize warfighter protection and performance. It supports three mission sets:
F1 (Warfighters): Optimize warfighter health and resilience in large-scale, sustained combat.
F2 (Warfighting): Transform logistics and supply chains, enabling "make it-don't take it" capabilities.
F3 (Foundational Technologies): Maintain strategic advantage with critical AI/ML-driven biological models and close the gap between simulation and real-world (SIM2REAL) applications.
To achieve these missions, BTO continuously recruits visionary leaders across biology, engineering, and computation-those who will conceive and drive the next generation of breakthrough technologies.
Office Culture
BTO integrates both DARPA veterans and newcomers into a fast-paced innovation engine. You will:
Quickly assimilate DIRO's (Director's Office) expectations and stay current with best practices for successful PIPs.
Collaborate with diverse subject matter experts across multiple technical domains.
Seek intersections between synthetic biology and other emerging technologies to shape next-generation solutions.
Contribute significantly to BTO's ambitious goal: enabling PMs to present 45 groundbreaking concepts per year.
Your motivation, expertise, and dedication will be instrumental in helping BTO meet annual innovation targets and fulfill its strategic mission.
Synthetic Biology (SynBio) Program Manager Role Overview
BTO seeks visionary engineers and scientists to create new paradigms - even entirely new domains - to address the pressing challenges in synthetic biology and biological engineering impacting National Security. BTO welcomes discussion with talented SynBio Program Manager candidates from diverse fields, including biological engineering and synthetic biology, who can demonstrate expertise in designing and implementing engineered biological systems. The SynBio Program Manager will have a truly career-defining experience transforming the field of synthetic biology by developing revolutionary approaches to engineer predictable, reliable, and scalable biological systems with precise, programmable functions.
DARPA goes to great lengths to identify, recruit and support these ambitious and visionary Program Managers (PMs). These extraordinary individuals, who are at the top of their fields, are hungry for the opportunity to push the limits of their disciplines (#DARPAhard). The PMs are leaders at the very heart of DARPA's history of success and serve in that role for on average three to four years. This short tenure forces extreme focus and work velocity while ensuring that the Agency regularly renews itself with new talent to keep pace with innovation and scientific breakthroughs. This leads to the signature DARPA urgency (#DARPAfast) to achieve success in less time than might be considered possible in a conventional setting, either academic, industrial or governmental.
Key Attributes
Commitment to Mission: Passionate about leveraging synthetic biology to provide U.S. warfighters with decisive advantages.
Imagination: Visionary thinker who originates breakthrough concepts, pushing well beyond the current state of the art in synthetic biology.
Velocity: Operates with a high sense of urgency, achieving tangible results on compressed timelines.
Storytelling and Communication: Skilled storyteller able to communicate complex technical concepts with clarity, ensuring that data and insights reach decision-makers and stakeholders effectively.
Relentlessness: Driven to succeed despite challenges; persistent and proactive in seeking answers and solutions.
Technical Rigor: Engineer's mindset-applying control theory, circuit design principles, and systems engineering approaches to biological platforms.
Curiosity: Deeply interested in new scientific and engineering frontiers; fascinated by cross-disciplinary opportunities spanning biology, computing, and design automation.
Resilience: Learns quickly from setbacks and pivots to new approaches with agility.
SynBio Program Manager: Major Duties and Responsibilities
The SynBio Program Manager will create, shape, and execute programs that revolutionize how the DoD utilizes biological systems. This involves conceptualizing ambitious, high-risk, high-reward synthetic biology programs that apply rigorous engineering principles-such as circuit design, metabolic engineering, and engineered control architectures-to build predictable biological platforms.
What Are You Doing to Help Us Win Together (Work Patterns / Work Actions)?
Program Origination & Ideation:
Constantly collaborate with PM peers and SETA teams to develop and refine PIPs into funded programs.
Anticipate defense needs, identify technology gaps, and envision revolutionary SynBio approaches that give the U.S. warfighter decisive advantage.
Leverage synthetic biology to solve pressing Defense challenges, from enabling "make it-not take it" logistics paradigms to creating robust, programmable living systems.
Identify revolutionary concepts that engineer biological systems for predictable, tunable functionality, ensuring the technology scales and integrates seamlessly into future warfighting scenarios.
Lead interdisciplinary teams and shape a research ecosystem that unites academia, industry, and government performers to serve the Defense mission!
Execution & Adaptation:
Oversee and inspire teams of top-tier researchers, ensuring alignment with DARPA's urgent timelines and strategic objectives.
Continually assess program progress, mitigating technical risks, and pivoting as needed to maintain momentum toward breakthrough capabilities.
Transition technological advancements to DoD partners, ensuring the resulting tools or systems are field-ready and impactful.
Communication & Transition:
Articulate complex SynBio concepts at multiple levels-scientists, military leaders, policymakers-ensuring clarity and buy-in.
Transition successful technologies to DoD partners, enabling real-world impact in warfighting and support operations.
Strategic Research & Analysis:
Conduct targeted research on the latest synthetic biology advancements, ensuring that concepts are at the cutting edge.
Gather insights from thought leaders across academia, industry, and government to validate assumptions and mitigate technical risks.
What Gets You in the Door (Qualifications)
Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Synthetic Biology, Biological Engineering, or related field
Demonstrated expertise in:
Design and implementation of genetic circuits (oscillators, switches, logic gates)
Control theory applied to biological systems
Engineered cell-cell communication systems
Robust design principles for biological systems
Predictive modeling of genetic circuits and metabolic networks
Extensive experience with:
Circuit design and modeling software (e.g., CelloCAD, GenoCAD)
Design-Build-Test-Learn automation platforms
High-throughput screening and selection systems
Deep understanding of current trends and emerging technologies in synthetic biology engineering
Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and/or patents demonstrating novel engineered biological systems
Proven track record of leading complex technical programs and teams
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Primary Work Partners
As a SynBio PM you will:
Work directly with other DARPA PMs and interagency partners to identify strategic gaps and create new program concepts that address pressing Defense challenges.
Serve as a focal point for top-tier research performers from academia, industry, and government, uniting multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex biological engineering problems.
Collaborate closely with DARPA's Science and Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) support staff who provide research, analysis, and operational support to help refine program ideas into compelling Program Initiation Pitches (PIPs).
The Rocks (Immovable Requirements)
The SynBio Program Manager will serve an initial term equivalent to a tour of duty or 2 years. This term is extensible to a maximum of 2 more tours, more generally an additional tour.
U.S. citizenship required
Background check required
Ability to obtain and maintain TS-SCI Security Clearance required