Job Description

We’re hiring. Trestle is looking to grow the team and add expertise and leadership at the interface of bioengineering, 3D biofabrication, stem cell biology and therapeutic tissue development.

Trestle is building bioengineered kidneys for patients with kidney failure and developing a solution for these patients through the integration of stem cell biology and 3D tissue fabrication. We are looking for a Lead Engineer to work closely with our Chief Scientific Officer (Alice Chen, PhD) as we develop our next generation of kidney tissues and advance in our preclinical model development and evaluation. We are looking for someone who is comfortable working on aggressive timelines, has excellent verbal and written communication skills, has prior experience in early-stage R&D, and can see themselves working at the leading edge of one of healthcare’s grand challenges.

If this sounds like you and you’re interested in joining us, please send an email with CV and an introduction to yourself to careers@trestlebio.com

Job Title: Bioengineer – Kidney Tissue Biofabrication
About Trestle Biotherapeutics:
Trestle Biotherapeutics is a seed stage, preclinical regenerative medicine company
located in San Diego, CA. Trestle is pioneering the future of organ transplantation through
our mission to transform the lives of patients suffering from kidney disease. Chronic
kidney disease affects 45 million Americans, with around 850,000 patients suffering from
kidney failure requiring chronic dialysis. Through the development of bioengineered
kidneys, Trestle is building a solution to address the critical shortage of donor organs and
reduce the burden of dialysis for those patients and their families. Our approach combines
innovations in stem cell biology and advanced 3D biofabrication techniques to create
functional, transplantable kidneys that will restore function in patients with kidney failure.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a hands-on, Lead Engineer with expertise in tissue engineering,
bioprinting, biofabrication, and 3D biological systems to lead critical R&D efforts in the
design, development, and optimization of functional human kidney tissues. You will work
closely with our founding team and directly with our Chief Scientific Officer to translate
early-stage concepts into scalable preclinical prototypes.
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and biofabrication of kidney tissue prototypes
• Develop and optimize 3D bioprinting protocols, bioink formulations, microfluidic
  and/or bioreactor systems for kidney tissue engineering and culture
• Operate and maintain bioprinting platforms, integrating emerging technologies as
  needed
• Evaluate and utilize hydrogel and biomaterial systems in biofabrication workflows
• Integrate novel or existing biomaterials to optimize microenvironments for kidney
  development and maturation
• Iterate on tissue design to enable for long-term scale and manufacturing solutions
• Collaborate on design and execution of in vitro functional assays to assess and
  optimize for critical quality attributes of prototype tissues
• Analyze data and present findings to internal team members and external partners
• Maintain detailed documentation to support lab SOPs, IP generation, grant writing
  and regulatory planning
  Required Qualifications
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Tissue Engineering,
  Biomedical Engineering, Regenerative Medicine, or related field
• Direct hands-on experience with 3D bioprinting, organotypic tissue models, or
  biofabrication
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong sense of drive, partnership, problem-solving
  ability and confidence with working in a rapid-paced environment
• Experience with biomaterials, hydrogels, extracellular matrices, and their cellular
  interactions
• Must be open to off-hour or light weekend work to maintain cultures
  Preferred Qualifications and Skills
• Understanding of renal cell types, development and physiology
• Skilled in stem cell differentiation and general mammalian cell culture
• In vitro assay development in 3D tissue systems and/or organoids
• In vitro assessment of glomerular filtration, renal tubular function, metabolic
  activity, or renal toxicity
• Experience with microfluidic systems or perfusion bioreactors
• Prior startup up or fast-paced R&D experience
  How to Apply:
  If you are a driven and creative thinker who wants to solve hard problems and contribute
  to revolutionizing the treatment of kidney disease through next generation biofabrication
  technologies, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@trestlebio.com for
  consideration.
  We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to
  work on cutting-edge research in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative
  medicine.
  Find us at www.trestlebio.com