Head of Experimentation

Physical Superintelligence

United States

Remote

Who this role is best for

Best suited to experienced experimental physicists with leadership experience working in interdisciplinary scientific environments.

Best fit for

Experienced experimental physicists with leadership experience and a track record of designing complex systems
— “Eight or more years of experimental research or scientific instrumentation experience, including at least three years of direct people management.”
Candidates who are technically engaged and can critically evaluate AI-assisted tools in experimental settings
— “Fluency in scientific programming, data analysis, and instrument automation, with the ability to use and critically evaluate AI-assisted tools.”
Individuals with domain expertise in experimental physics and the judgment to lead across disciplines
— “Deep expertise in at least one experimental physics discipline, with the breadth and judgment to lead specialists outside your field.”

Things to consider

This role demands a high level of technical ownership and close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
— “We value ambitious scientific judgment, technical ownership, and reliable execution.”
Candidates must be prepared to manage budgets, schedules, and safety oversight in a remote laboratory setting.
— “Manage equipment plans, budgets, schedules, and shared laboratory resources, with appropriate safety oversight.”

How to stand out

Highlight your experience in building and operating complex experimental systems with defensible results.
— “A demonstrated record of personally designing, building, and operating complex experimental systems and producing defensible results.”
Emphasize your ability to lead and develop technical teams in experimental physics or engineering.
— “Recruit, manage, and develop experimental physicists, research engineers, and technicians.”
Showcase your skill in establishing rigorous standards for data quality and reproducibility.
— “Establish rigorous standards for calibration, data quality, uncertainty analysis, and reproducibility.”
Demonstrate experience in connecting experimental results to AI research and technology development.
— “Connect experimental results to modeling, AI research, and further technology development.”

Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

set experimental priorities
lead the design and operation of experimental apparatus
recruit and develop experimental physicists
establish rigorous standards for calibration and data quality
connect experimental results to modeling and AI research

Typical background

8+ years of experimental research or scientific instrumentation experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Experimental ResearchScientific InstrumentationPeople ManagementCalibrationMeasurement UncertaintySystematic ErrorsExperimental ControlsScientific ProgrammingData AnalysisInstrument Automation

Preferred

Experience Establishing A LaboratoryDeveloping First-of-a-kind Scientific InstrumentsTranslating Experimental Results Into Reliable Prototypes

Stack & domain

Scientific ProgrammingData AnalysisInstrument AutomationAi-assisted ToolsLeadershipManagementTechnical OwnershipReliable ExecutionAmbitious Scientific JudgmentPhysicsAIEngineeringExperimental ResearchScientific Instrumentation

About the role

Original posting from Physical Superintelligence via Ashby

Overview
Physical Superintelligence (PSI) combines physics, AI, and engineering to accelerate scientific discovery and develop consequential technologies.
We are seeking a Head of Experimentation to build and lead our physical experimental program. You will turn scientific questions into decisive experiments, develop the team and laboratory capabilities to execute them, and ensure that results withstand independent scrutiny.
This is a hands-on leadership role, working closely with PSI’s Physics, AI, and Engineering teams.
Responsibilities
Set experimental priorities and translate research objectives into executable programs with clear milestones and decision criteria.
Lead the design, commissioning, and operation of experimental apparatus and measurement systems.
Recruit, manage, and develop experimental physicists, research engineers, and technicians.
Establish rigorous standards for calibration, data quality, uncertainty analysis, and reproducibility.
Connect experimental results to modeling, AI research, and further technology development.
Manage equipment plans, budgets, schedules, and shared laboratory resources, with appropriate safety oversight.
Stay technically engaged: review experimental designs, troubleshoot difficult measurements, and make evidence-based decisions about where to invest or stop.
What We Are Looking For
Eight or more years of experimental research or scientific instrumentation experience, including at least three years of direct people management.
A demonstrated record of personally designing, building, and operating complex experimental systems and producing defensible results.
Deep expertise in at least one experimental physics discipline, with the breadth and judgment to lead specialists outside your field.
Strong command of calibration, measurement uncertainty, systematic errors, and experimental controls.
Experience hiring technical teams and managing laboratory resources, equipment budgets, and demanding development schedules.
Fluency in scientific programming, data analysis, and instrument automation, with the ability to use and critically evaluate AI-assisted tools.
A PhD in physics, applied physics, engineering, or an equivalent record of experimental achievement.
Nice to Have
Experience establishing a laboratory or developing first-of-a-kind scientific instruments.
Experience translating experimental results into reliable prototypes or industrial applications.
Work spanning multidisciplinary research teams, industry, or national laboratories.
How We Work
We value ambitious scientific judgment, technical ownership, and reliable execution. We use AI throughout our work and hold its outputs to the same evidentiary standards as any other research. Leaders are expected to remain close to the science, the apparatus, and the people doing the work.

Source: Physical Superintelligence careers (Ashby)