Technical Co-Founder & CTO

FabricNano · London (Euston) · Hybrid, minimum three days in the office

Compensation: £100,000–£130,000 per annum + meaningful founder equity.

The Brief

FabricNano is entering its next phase and is seeking an entrepreneurial Technical Co-Founder & CTO to determine and lead its technical direction.

The mission is to identify a compelling commercial opportunity, build the team and technology to pursue it, and deliver a convincing proof-of-concept within 12 months that can support further investment, commercial partnerships or other strategic opportunities.

We have capital, a well-equipped laboratory, established technical capabilities and the operational backbone already in place. What we need is an exceptional scientific leader to take ownership of the technical direction, make difficult decisions and deliver commercially compelling evidence.

Context

FabricNano has historically developed enzymatic alternatives to conventional chemical synthesis, using engineered biocatalysts to make industrial manufacturing processes more efficient and sustainable.

We are now exploring the next commercial opportunity for the company, building on our existing capabilities in biocatalysis, protein engineering and industrial biotechnology, while remaining open to compelling opportunities beyond these areas.

One area of particular interest is complex therapeutic peptide manufacturing, including enzyme-enabled approaches to peptide fragment ligation and modification. The ambition is to enable the manufacture of valuable molecules that remain difficult or uneconomical to produce using conventional methods. However, this is one opportunity among several, rather than a predetermined technical direction.

What we need is someone with the scientific judgement and commercial instinct to cut through the possibilities, identify the single most promising opportunity and lead a focused programme to deliver convincing technical and commercial evidence within a year.

The First Year

• Set the direction. Critically assess the existing opportunity set, challenge our assumptions and select the programme that warrants the company's full technical attention.
• Own the strategy. Define the technical approach, development milestones, budget and objective criteria for success or failure.
• Build the team. Recruit and lead a small, exceptional technical team, hiring for capability and output rather than headcount.
• Deliver the technology. Lead a focused development programme, remaining close enough to the laboratory to make informed technical decisions and resolve problems quickly.
• Engage the market. Work directly with prospective customers, industry partners and investors to ensure the technology addresses a genuine commercial requirement.
• Build the evidence. Deliver a robust, reproducible technical dataset and a clear commercial proposition capable of supporting the company's next stage of growth.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a founder-minded, hands-on scientific leader who has demonstrated the ability to turn ambitious science into commercially meaningful technology.

You will bring:

• Significant technical experience in a relevant field, such as biocatalysis, enzyme or protein engineering, peptide chemistry, bioprocess development or industrial biotechnology.
• A track record of taking technology beyond exploratory research into a convincing proof-of-concept, working prototype or commercially relevant process.
• Strong scientific judgement and the ability to distinguish interesting research from technically achievable, commercially valuable opportunities.
• Experience designing and directing experimental programmes, making prioritisation decisions and managing technical teams and resources.
• The commercial awareness and communication skills to engage confidently with scientists, customers, industrial partners and investors.

You may currently be a CTO, Head of R&D, Technical Director, Principal Scientist or senior technical leader ready to take on a founder-level position.

We care more about what you have built, the decisions you have made and the results you have delivered than your current job title.

Terms and Context

This is a business at an inflection point, and the position carries the risk and opportunity that entails.

You will have genuine ownership of the technical direction, the resources to pursue it and the opportunity to build the next stage of the company. We will offer a salary and equity package reflecting the responsibility and commitment of the role.

The position is based in central London, near Euston, with a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Candidates looking for a mature organisation or a settled technical remit should look elsewhere.

Those excited by the prospect of taking ownership of a focused, ambitious technical mission and seeing how far they can push the technology should apply.

How to Apply

We'd particularly welcome a short note on a technical programme you've led, what you achieved and why this opportunity interests you.