Chief Technology Officer

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) provides strategic and operational leadership for all IT technology functions within the company. The CTO is responsible for software development, enterprise IT oversight, cybersecurity, network management, infrastructure reliability, on-site and cloud data governance, and long-term AI strategy.

The CTO partners with executive leadership, laboratory operations, quality assurance, security, and IT teams to ensure technology solutions support scientific excellence, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and innovation., Technology Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi-year technology roadmap aligned with corporate strategy.
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team.
• Translate business and laboratory needs into scalable, secure technology solutions.
• Establish KPIs and performance metrics for technology operations.
• Manage technology budget planning, forecasting, license management, and vendor selection.

Software Development & LIMS Oversight

Primary accountability: Ownership and strategic direction of the proprietary LIMS platform.

• Lead the design, development, maintenance, and modernization of the in-house LIMS system and other in-house applications.
• Ensure the LIMS supports forensic workflows including case management and reporting, chain-of-custody, data integrity, reporting, and audit readiness.
• Implement secure development lifecycle (SDLC) practices.
• Oversee application architecture and system integrations (instrumentation, external databases, reporting systems).
• Ensure compliance with forensic accreditation and regulatory standards (e.g., ISO 17025, ISO 9001, CMMC).
• Prioritize system enhancements in collaboration with laboratory leadership.
• Maintain documentation, validation protocols, and audit support.

IT Infrastructure & Enterprise Oversight

• Oversee all IT infrastructure including:

• Network architecture
• Cloud and on-premise systems
• Storage and backup systems
• Endpoint management
• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
• External platform and service vendor vetting

• Ensure 24/7 reliability for mission-critical laboratory systems.
• Lead cybersecurity strategy including:

• Risk assessments
• Vulnerability management
• Incident response planning
• Data encryption and access controls

• Build/enhance redundancy for identified key systems.
• Manage vendor relationships and technology procurement.

AI & Advanced Analytics Strategy

• Develop and execute an AI strategy aligned with forensic science and operational objectives.
• Evaluate & implement opportunities for:

• Company-identified use cases
• Process automation
• Workflow optimization
• Quality control anomaly detection

• Establish governance frameworks for responsible AI use.
• Ensure AI tools are validated, transparent, and compliant with contractual and forensic admissibility standards.
• Lead internal capability development in data science and machine learning.
• Monitor emerging technologies in forensic bioinformatics and automation.
• Manage AI hardware requirements and evaluate emerging AI tools and platforms.

Data Governance & Security

• Establish enterprise data governance and security standards.
• Ensure integrity, traceability, and auditability of forensic data.
• Define data retention policies and archival systems.
• Ensure secure integration between laboratory instruments and enterprise systems.
• Lead cybersecurity awareness and training initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with Government-driven cyber security standards including CMMC and NIST.
• Review and revise corporate IT policies as needed and conduct regular audits to ensure compliance.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and mentor a team of approximately 8 professionals across:

• Software development
• IT infrastructure
• Systems administration
• Data/AI functions

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing technical talent.
• Execute table-top exercises and gap assessments to evaluate disaster readiness.
• Establish agile or structured development practices as appropriate.
• Reallocate personnel and resources as needed to achieve corporate goals/requirements.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive technology leadership experience.
• 5+ years in senior technology management (Director, VP, or CTO level).
• Experience managing software development teams and enterprise IT operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading proprietary platform development.
• Experience with regulated environments (forensic, healthcare, biotech, government, or criminal justice systems).
• Strong knowledge of:

• Secure software development practices
• Cloud platforms and hybrid architectures
• Cybersecurity frameworks
• Data governance principles
• AI/ML deployment and oversight

Preferred Experience

• Experience in forensic science, laboratory environments, or LIMS platforms.
• Familiarity with accreditation standards (ISO 17025, CMMC, NIST).
• Experience with high-security or regulated environments.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics or scientific data systems.
• IT professional certifications (CompTIA, AWS, Google, CISM, CCNA, etc.)
• Current or previous security clearance(s).

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with operational execution capability
• Strong executive communication skills
• Risk-aware decision maker
• Systems architect mindset
• Regulatory and compliance fluency
• High ethical standards and data stewardship orientation
• Ability to balance innovation with evidentiary reliability
• Forward-looking in AI adoption but disciplined in validation and governance.