Chief Operations Officer (COO) - Astera Neuro

About Astera

Astera is a nonprofit research organization pioneering unconventional scientific frontiers. Its latest initiative, Obelisk, is a large-scale, $50–100M/year research program aiming to engineer consciousness by integrating neuroscience, AI, and bioengineering to understand and digitally model the architecture of the human mind.

Unlike traditional nonprofit research, Obelisk is structured and resourced to operate like a high-velocity, venture-backed research company with a clear engineering goal, attracting top talent from AI frontier labs (e.g., OpenAI, Neuralink) and leading academic institutions. With strong central operational support from Astera, Obelisk is positioned to scale rapidly, expanding from ~20 to 100+ interdisciplinary scientists and engineers over the next several years. Obelisk is led by Astera Co-founder Jed McCaleb and Dr. Doris Tsao, Chief Scientist. The new executive will partner closely with both to operationalize Obelisk’s ambitious mission.

Mission

Hire a founding operational leader (COO) to architect, operationalize, and scale Astera Neuro —building the lab space, infrastructure, talent, and systems required to advance Astera’s mission to explore the boundaries of human consciousness through neuroscience and AI.

This leader will establish corporate-grade research operations, manage complex, cross-disciplinary programs, and ensure research is goal-oriented and well-directed. They will serve as both strategic integrator and organizational builder, transforming an early research vision into a world-class scientific enterprise.

Measures & Signals of Success

• Operational Readiness: Astera Neuro labs, vivarium, and facilities operational and compliant within 6–12 months.

• Team Scale-Up: 50–100 top-tier hires successfully recruited and integrated over the next 2-3 years.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Coordinated progress between engineering and neuroscience groups; shared milestones achieved.

Key Outcomes (12–24 Months)

1. Operationalization & Scale-Up

   1. Stand up the foundational operational systems for Astera Neuro, including lab infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional workflows.

   2. Establish and oversee a vivarium program (primate research), navigating local regulations, permitting, and community engagement.

   3. Define and execute a clear roadmap for facility buildout in Emeryville, CA.

2. Recruitment & Organizational Growth

   1. Lead recruitment effort and onboard 50–100 world-class neuroscientists, engineers, and supporting personnel across research and operations.

   2. Build an ambitious, mission-driven culture that blends startup agility with scientific rigor to go after a challenging moonshot.

   3. Develop scalable processes for hiring, onboarding, and performance management tailored to Obelisk’s interdisciplinary model.

3. Cross-Disciplinary Coordination

   1. Oversee Project Management function to create the connective tissue between neuroscience and engineering teams, ensuring rapid iteration and effective collaboration.

   2. Translate technical and scientific priorities into actionable operational plans and execute.

   3. Serve as the key communication hub across scientific, technical, and foundation leadership.

   4. Ensure seamless integration with Astera’s central foundation teams (HR, Legal, Finance, Comms).

Competencies

Functional Expertise

• Helped build a startup as a founder or as part of the leadership team.

• 6+ years of leadership in complex research or technology organizations (AI, neuroscience, biotech, or advanced R&D).

• Proven success in rapidly scaling an organization from concept through multi-lab operations.

• Skilled in program and project management, budget oversight, and operational design for hybrid scientific teams.

• Deep understanding of R&D infrastructure, lab buildouts, and vivarium setup and compliance is a plus.

Leadership Attributes

• Visionary operational thinker who thrives in ambiguity and builds structure where none exists.

• Skilled technical communicator able to translate between scientific, engineering, and organizational contexts.

• Hands-on builder—comfortable oscillating between strategic and tactical execution.

• Strong bias toward action.

Cultural Alignment

• Deep belief in the existential importance of the mission; committed to ethical advancement of AI and neuroscience research.

• Thrives in unconventional, experimental environments blending tech and biology.

• Fast and nimble.

Location:

This role is in-person in Emeryville, CA.

Compensation:

The successful candidate will receive a competitive compensation package commensurate with their experience.

As a nonprofit organization, we're exempt from the H-1B cap; visa sponsorship may be available for qualified candidates.