Technical Project Specialist

Job Title

Technical Project Specialist

Job Statement

The Technical Project Specialist drives complex research projects that advance Aptitude’s innovative diagnostic products. You will coordinate objectives, timelines, and milestones, and be responsible for preparing technical communications while keeping teams aligned, accountable, and on track. If you are passionate about contributing to the development of disruptive medical diagnostics, and eager to grow in a high-impact startup, we encourage you to apply.

Location

On-site in Aptitude’s Santa Barbara/Goleta facility.

About Us

Aptitude is a deep-tech healthcare startup on a mission to democratize diagnostics by radically simplifying gold-standard molecular testing. Our Metrix® platform delivers lab-quality PCR results in minutes, right in the hands of providers and patients. We’ve already earned FDA authorization and launched two products that are trusted nationwide by healthcare providers and individual users. We are now scaling adoption, expanding our pipeline, and building the future of decentralized diagnostics. If you want to join a team that’s moving fast and reshaping how healthcare works, come build with us.

About the Role

In this position, you will be embedded in a cross-functional team of mission-driven scientists and engineers to drive the invention and development of novel diagnostic products. You will own project coordination and technical communications for research and product development endeavors. This includes working closely with various Aptitude team members to deeply understand project objectives and progress, aligning awareness and accountability of deliverables and responsibilities, tracking progress, surfacing problems early and seeking their collaborative resolution, and ensuring timely completion of project milestones. The role also entails drafting and managing technical communications with internal and external stakeholders including proposals, reports, slides, and other documentation. 

Responsibilities

Aptitude’s goal is that the successful candidate could grow into the following responsibilities:

• Work with technical and management teams to drive product development objectives.
• Work both independently and collaboratively to understand and effectively communicate project objectives, timelines, progress, and challenges internally and externally.
• Take responsibility for understanding technical, contractual, and administrative requirements of research projects and ensure deliverables meet agreed project requirements.
• Anticipate risks, surface problems early, and work with stakeholders to resolve them.
• Own project technical communications: prepare, review, and edit written materials (reports, documents, presentations, other business assets) ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency, and that content meets organizational standards and objectives.
• Attend and take minutes at regular project meetings to record key goals, decisions, action items, questions, and narratives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Qualities, and Skills

• Education: bachelor’s degree in a technical field. Those with professional experience in a relevant field and/or an advanced degree or progress towards an advanced degree are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Drive to learn: enthusiasm, curiosity and a desire to understand, learn, and improve.
• Growth mindset: values transparency and feedback, and is comfortable both giving and receiving constructive input.
• Communication: the ability to clearly communicate complex technical topics at an audience-appropriate level both verbally and in written form.
• Writing: Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Critical thinking: ability to think critically, to identify the connections between concepts, and to anticipate future needs based on a deep understanding of company projects.
• Execution: excellent time-management and prioritization skills, and the ability to independently execute recurring tasks according to established routines.
• Collaboration: strong interpersonal skills and capable of building trust and rapport with leadership, colleagues, and external stakeholders, contributing to an engaging and agreeable workplace environment.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Growth opportunities inherent to a fast-growing startup.
• 401K Plan with company matching.
• Medical insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Immigration support.

Aptitude Medical Systems is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state or local law.