Algae Production Lead

About PhykionPhykion is reimagining aviation fuel. We cultivate hyper-productive microalgae to produce a scalable, low-carbon oil that drops directly into the HEFA pathway — the most commercially established route to sustainable aviation fuel. Our platform is built on three breakthroughs: a field-proven algae host with 5+ years of outdoor cultivation, strain engineering trait stacking that has delivered a 10x gain in oil productivity to date, and an outdoor cultivation process on non-arable land fed by seawater and CO2. We are scaling this validated technology into demonstration production, paving the way for commercial supply of low-carbon oil by the end of the decade. As part of that scale-up, we are re-opening our pilot facility near Calipatria, California, and building the small team that will bring the site back online and run it.The RoleWe are seeking an Algae Production Lead to oversee day-to-day algae operations at our pilot farm. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced production professional who can take cultivation protocols defined in prior growing seasons — together with the latest refinements from our research greenhouse — and implement them reliably at pilot scale. The Algae Production Lead will directly supervise a small team conducting outdoor production and the laboratory measurements that support that work, partnering closely with the Director of Scale-up Operations and Engineering, the Facilities Supervisor, and the broader R&D organization.Duties and ResponsibilitiesLead day-to-day cultivation operations across our pilot farm — laboratory scale-up, PBR, and raceway cultivation systems — including inoculation, pond management, harvest scheduling, and turnover between runs.Implement at scale the cultivation protocols developed in prior growing seasons and the refinements coming out of the research greenhouse; close the loop with R&D on what works at production scale and what doesn't.Directly supervise the production team and the on-site laboratory measurement team — set schedules, assign work, manage performance, develop people, and own the day-to-day operating rhythm.Oversee sampling and analytical measurements that support production decisions — growth, density, nutrient, contamination, and culture-health measurements — and ensure data is correctly ingested into databases and dashboards.Set and track operational KPIs — harvest yield, contamination, downtime, on-spec runs — and lead a continuous-improvement cadence against those targets.Champion a strong safety culture; ensure cultivation and laboratory work complies with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, and partner with EHS on hazard reviews and incident response.Partner with the Director of Scale-up Operations and Engineering and the Facilities Supervisor on commissioning, run scheduling, equipment changes, and the cultivation-to-harvest handoff.Translate research findings into production practice and feed production learnings back into the research roadmap.Recruit, hire, onboard, train, and develop the production and lab measurement teams.Requirements and ExperienceB.S. in Phycology, Biology, Agriculture, Agronomy, Microbiology, Process Engineering, or related discipline required; M.S. or Ph.D. preferred. Equivalent education and experience considered.Direct, hands-on experience with mass algae cultivation — specifically phototrophic production at pilot or commercial scale (raceways, photobioreactors, or comparable systems) — is strongly preferred. Candidates with directly relevant experience in large-scale microbial production (e.g., industrial fermentation) may be considered.Personnel management experience supervising production and/or laboratory teams.Working knowledge of laboratory analytical methods supporting cultivation — e.g., optical density, dry weight, nutrient and pH analysis, microscopy, contamination screening — and the operating discipline to keep data clean and decision-ready.Experience with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) or contamination control for large-scale cultures is a plus.Excellent written and verbal communication; able to brief leadership, document procedures clearly, and run effective hand-offs with cross-functional partners.Authorization to work in the United States is required.Work Location and ScheduleOn-site at our pilot facility near Calipatria, CA. Standard schedule with flexibility to support a 24/7 operation, including occasional weekend, evening, and on-call coverage during commissioning and campaign runs.RelocationRelocation assistance available for qualified candidates relocating to the Calipatria area. The Imperial Valley and surrounding communities offer a range of housing options at attractive cost of living relative to coastal California.ability, and working in a laboratory and outdoor production setting.