Associate / Senior Associate, Origination (AI/Tech) - Armen Mkrtchyan's Pioneering Business Unit (PBU)

THE ROLE

At Flagship Pioneering, we don’t wait for the future—we build it. Our origination model is like a startup foundry for breakthrough science and technology: we dream up bold ideas, pressure-test them fast, and launch entirely new ventures from scratch. Think of it as startup creation in extreme mode—where the whiteboard is blank, the questions are audacious, and the upside is industry-shaping. As an Origination Associate, you’ll be part explorer, part builder. You’ll work with scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to uncover untapped frontiers, prototype concepts, and help design the first version of ventures that could scale globally. The work is fast-paced, creative, and deeply hands-on: you’ll be generating hypotheses, running sprints, and shaping the DNA of companies before they even exist.

You’ll be joining our AI & Tech focused origination team led by our Origination Partner Armen Mkrtchyan. We explore the intersection of AI with science, data, and real-world systems—whether that’s building new platforms for discovery, creating intelligent infrastructure, or reimagining how emerging technologies can unlock entirely new categories of ventures. This is a chance to sit at the cutting edge of both frontier science and frontier tech, helping craft the next generation of Flagship companies.

We’re seeking builders and explorers who thrive in ambiguity, think critically about AI/ML, and spot opportunities others miss. Your background could be in physics, engineering, computer science, biology, or another technical field—what matters is curiosity, creativity, and the drive to turn bold ideas into reality. You’re excited not just to invent products, but to help create entirely new companies from the ground up.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Explore white spaces: Identify and investigate emerging frontiers in AI, computation, and technology that could unlock entirely new markets and industries
• Hypothesize & stress-test: Generate bold venture hypotheses, run rapid experiments (conceptual, computational, or prototype-driven), and rigorously pressure-test assumptions
• Design venture blueprints: Help translate early-stage concepts into venture designs—including technical thesis, product architecture, and potential go-to-market approaches
• Shape new companies: Contribute directly to the conception and launch of high-potential ventures, with a hands-on role in their earliest stages.
• Collaborate across disciplines: Work closely with scientists, engineers, product thinkers, and entrepreneurs to fuse technical insights with market potential
• Synthesize insights: Translate complex technical trends into clear, actionable insights for Flagship’s venture creation process
• Push the frontier: Stay ahead of emerging AI and tech advances, bringing creativity and critical thinking to areas others overlook

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (PhD or equivalent experience) in a technical, scientific, or quantitative field — e.g., computer science, engineering, physics, math, chemistry, biology, or related disciplines. We welcome diverse academic backgrounds that bring new ways of thinking
• 2+ years of experience in research, technology, startups, or other environments that demand both analytical rigor and creative problem-solving
• Demonstrated ability to build or develop technically challenging projects—whether in academia, industry, or entrepreneurial settings
• Solid conceptual and practical understanding of modern AI/ML methods (e.g., large language models, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, causal inference) and the ability to think critically about their applications, limitations, and potential
• Comfort working across disciplines and rapidly learning unfamiliar technical domains
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling written narratives and presentations
• Proven ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving, entrepreneurial contexts; able to prioritize, pivot, and push forward without a playbook
• Genuine passion for innovation, venture creation, and exploring uncharted technological spaces

LOCATION:  Cambridge, MA

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.   

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com. 

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship. 

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto. 

The salary range for this role is $155,000 - $247,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Flagship Pioneering currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Flagship Pioneering’s good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

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