VP, Research & Development

Role Overview

Dinamo is a precision immunology company at the intersection of DNA methylation and AI. We identify patient subpopulations most likely to respond to specific therapies, with the goal of improving treatment decisions and clinical outcomes in immunology and autoimmune diseases.

The VP of R&D will own all of Dinamo's science and technology strategy and execution, reporting directly to the CEO. The role spans the biomarker discovery platform, the production clinical diagnostic platform (path to CLIA/CAP launch and ultimately IVD), internal AI/ML and data infrastructure, and clinical study data and analysis. This is a founding-team-level role with full ownership of how Dinamo builds, validates, and scales the science behind its platform.

The role is full-time on-site at our San Carlos office.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the scientific and technical strategy across discovery, diagnostics, and computational platforms
• Build and lead a unified R&D organization spanning molecular biology, bioinformatics, computational biology, software engineering, and clinical data science
• Take Dinamo's methylation-based assays from R&D through analytical and clinical validation, into CLIA/LDT launch, and onto an IVD path
• Lead the AI/ML strategy applied to genomic and clinical data, including model development, infrastructure, and data governance
• Architect and oversee clinical study design, data management, and biostatistical rigor in partnership with clinical collaborators
• Partner with the CEO and VP of BD to translate platform capabilities into external opportunities and structured collaborations
• Represent Dinamo's science to KOLs, partners, regulators, and investors

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD in computational biology, genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, or a closely related field
• 10+ years post-degree with significant leadership in precision medicine, molecular diagnostics, or genomics
• Has personally led a molecular assay from R&D through clinical validation and launch under CLIA/LDT; IVD/FDA experience a plus
• Deep hands-on NGS expertise; methylation or epigenomics experience required
• Track record leading both wet-lab and computational teams at the bench/code interface
• Direct experience applying ML/AI to genomic or clinical data
• Clinical study experience: data management, biostatistics, and SAP-level rigor
• Has built and scaled technical organizations at the seed-to-Series-B stage
• Bay Area-based or willing to relocate

Broader Capabilities

• Operates at the altitude of both org-builder and individual contributor; still hands-on when the problem demands it
• Comfortable bridging wet and dry, science and engineering, R&D and clinical
• High ownership mindset, with the ability to set technical direction and execute against it
• Strong external presence with KOLs, regulators, and diagnostic industry talent
• Founding-team intensity; thrives at seed/Series-A stage with broad scope and limited scaffolding

What Success Looks Like

• Build a unified R&D org that operates as one team across wet, dry, and clinical
• Take Dinamo's first methylation assay through clinical validation and CLIA launch
• Establish the AI/ML and data infrastructure that powers patient stratification at scale
• Define and execute the scientific roadmap that supports Dinamo's commercial strategy