About Us

Cortical Labs Pty Ltd is a pioneering company at the forefront of innovation, uniting experts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, engineering, neuroscience, and stem cell culture. Our mission is to develop synthetic biological intelligence chips, venturing into uncharted territories of technology and biology.

To realise this vision, we operate within a multidisciplinary framework, creating cutting-edge software (such as real-time closed-loop systems), advanced hardware (including multielectrode arrays and perfusion loop bioreactors), and innovative synthetic biology protocols.

Our focus goes beyond merely enhancing computers or improving data centres; we’re driven by curiosity about the possibilities. What if we could cultivate a mind that thrives in the limitless realm of digital computing? We’re excited to explore the implications this has for digital environments, robotics, science, and personal care. We ponder the journey of a mind born from the physical world yet fluent in the digital realm, and we’re eager to discover where it will lead us and what it can teach us.

To date, we have successfully developed and launched our CL1 product that demonstrates real-time learning in neural systems and we will soon be launching our cloud service for global access to these systems. For a deeper dive into our research, check out our recent paper at Neuron, a video explainer from Reuters and explore our work on GitHub.

For more insights into what we do, explore the following links:

• Forbes Article
• Twitter Overview
• Introduction to Synthetic Biological Intelligence (SBI) and Cortical Labs

Who We're Seeking

We are seeking a generalist Senior Systems & Infrastructure Engineer to work on our core infrastructure across Linux systems, networking, storage, and cloud environments. This is a hands-on, high-impact role in a startup setting, working closely with the CTO to design, operate, and evolve reliable, secure, and scalable Infrastructure.

You will be responsible not just for keeping systems running, but for helping shape how infrastructure is architected, built and operated as the company and our product service grows.

You Have:

• Senior-level experience operating Linux infrastructure in production environments
• Strong practical networking knowledge (IPv4 routing, VLANs, NAT, firewalling)
• Proven experience designing and managing storage and backup systems
• Hands-on experience with NFS or Samba in production
• Strong experience with AWS or comparable cloud platforms
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently and make sound technical decisions
• Experience documenting systems, operational practices, and architectural decisions
• Proficient in Git and Bash

Preferred Qualifications

• Infrastructure-as-code and automation (Terraform, Ansible, scripting)
• Cloudflare Access & Zero Trust
• Ubiquiti / Unifi ecosystem
• Monitoring, alerting, and logging systems (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, etc.)
• Hybrid on-prem / cloud infrastructure design
• Security-focused infrastructure design and incident response experience
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and automated infrastructure testing
• Experience managing data pipelines or analysing complex systems at scale
• Supporting small teams and mentoring junior engineers

Key Responsibilities

• Infrastructure Ownership: Own the day-to-day operation and long-term evolution of core infrastructure, partnering with the CTO on architecture and strategy while balancing reliability, security, cost, and delivery speed.
• Linux Systems Engineering: Design, deploy, secure, and operate Linux systems across on-prem and cloud environments, leading automation, performance tuning, patching, and complex incident response.
• Networking: Design, secure, and operate IPv4 network architectures including routing, VLANs, NAT, and firewalling across physical and virtual environments, resolving performance and connectivity issues.
• Storage, Backups & Data Protection: Architect and operate resilient storage, backup, and disaster recovery solutions, ensuring data integrity, availability, retention, and tested recovery across critical systems.
• Network File Systems: Architect and manage shared file systems using NFS and Samba, defining access models, permissions, and performance for multi-user and multi-service environments.
• Cloud Infrastructure (AWS and/or others): Design, operate, and optimise cloud infrastructure primarily in AWS, managing VPCs, IAM, compute, storage, networking, cost control, and on-prem integration.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90 days, this person will progressively take hands-on ownership of all existing infrastructure responsibilities currently held by the CTO. They will develop a deep, practical understanding of the company’s Linux based networking environment, on-prem hardware in Brunswick, and AWS integrations supporting both local and overseas deployments. A major priority will be ensuring the stability, performance, and reliability of Cortical Cloud as it launches, with a strong focus on near zero latency access for early customers. During this period, they will audit the current infrastructure, identify risks, constraints, and technical debt, and clearly articulate recommendations for improvement. Success in this phase means the infrastructure is operating reliably day to day, with reduced dependency on the CTO for execution and troubleshooting.

After 12 months, this person will fully own the design, delivery, and operation of the company’s infrastructure, with the CTO stepping back into a purely strategic oversight role. They will have designed and implemented scalable infrastructure solutions capable of supporting dozens to hundreds of customers globally, while maintaining performance, security, and reliability. They will be driving infrastructure strategy proactively, pitching and delivering upgrades aligned to product growth and international expansion. By this point, they will be recognised internally as the trusted expert for infrastructure decisions, execution, and scaling, with a clear pathway to building out an infrastructure team as the business continues to grow.

Benefits

At Cortical Labs, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional and personal well-being. Here's what you can expect:

• Opportunity to define and scale a core platform at the frontier of neuroscience and computing.
• Collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven culture.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.
• Flexible work arrangements and supportive team environment.
• Office located in the heart of Melbourne’s innovation district.

Diversity and Inclusion

We believe that diversity is essential to our success. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, or disability status.

At Cortical Labs, we believe the next revolution in computing won’t come from silicon alone. If you’re excited about the idea of working with real living neurons, advanced computing infrastructure, and a world-class team - we encourage you to apply.