Associate Director and Senior Principal, AI Methods, AI for Research (AI4R)

Job Title: Associate Director and Senior Principal, AI Methods, AI for Research (AI4R)#LI-HybridLocation: Cambridge, USARelocation Support: This role is based in Cambridge, USA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.Shape the future of drug discovery through cutting-edge artificial intelligence. As a leader in the AI Methods group within AI for Research (AI4R), you will drive the development of advanced machine learning approaches that unlock new insights across the biomedical research pipeline. From identifying novel therapeutic targets to accelerating clinical translation, your work will directly contribute to delivering innovative medicines faster. This is a unique opportunity to combine deep technical expertise with scientific curiosity, collaborate with world-class researchers, and redefine how AI transforms healthcare.Key ResponsibilitiesLead matrixed teams to design and deliver robust, scalable machine learning solutions for drug discoveryDrive development of core machine learning capabilities across priority AI use cases in biomedical researchIdentify opportunities for methodological innovation across the end-to-end drug discovery pipelineBuild advanced algorithms, models, and workflows to accelerate therapeutic discovery and developmentEstablish and manage strategic collaborations with leading academic and external research partnersAct as subject matter expert on state-of-the-art machine learning approaches across research domainsTranslate complex model outputs into actionable scientific hypotheses and guide experimental designDefine and implement meaningful success metrics for AI models to ensure measurable research impactCollaborate across multidisciplinary teams to align AI solutions with scientific and business objectivesPromote awareness and adoption of advanced AI methods within the broader research organizationEssential Requirements6+ years of experience in developing and deploying machine learning solutions across drug discovery domainsHands-on expertise applying machine learning to target identification, protein modelling, or translational researchStrong experience with large-scale model training, high performance computing, and cloud-based infrastructureAdvanced knowledge of modern machine learning methods such as representation learning or neural network architecturesProficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks, with strong software development and version control practicesDemonstrated ability to drive innovation and deliver impactful machine learning solutions in complex, matrixed environmentsDesirable RequirementsDemonstrated contributions through publications, patents, or open-source projects in advanced machine learning researchExperience with multimodal or foundation models applied to biomedical data such as imaging, genomics, or molecular structuresNovartis Compensation and Benefit SummaryThe salary for this position is expected to range between 1,60,300.00 - 2,97,700.00 USD Annual.The final salary offered is determined based on factors such as relevant skills and experience and will be reviewed periodically upon joining Novartis. Novartis may update the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility for annual equity awards.US-based eligible associates receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life, and disability coverage, a 401(k) plan with company contribution and matching, and a range of additional benefits. Associates are also eligible for a generous time-off package, including vacation, personal days, holidays, and other leave options. To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.