| Location | Newark, CA |
| Salary | $250,000–$310,000 Per Year |
Head of AI
About Us
Protagonist Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company built on a proprietary peptide technology platform that has now produced two FDA-approved, first-in-class medicines, generating royalties and milestones from global commercial partnerships with Johnson and Johnson and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. ICOTYDE (icotrokinra), licensed to Johnson & Johnson company Janssen Biotech, Inc., is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the Interleukin-23 receptor. ICOTYDE was launched in the U.S. in March 2026 for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age or older and is in Phase 3 development for psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn''s disease. ICOTYDE was jointly discovered by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists, with Protagonist having primary responsibility for the development of ICOTYDE through Phase 1, and Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for further clinical and regulatory development and commercialization. Protagonist also discovered and led research and development through Phase 3 for MIMRYLO (rusfertide), a first-in-class hepcidin mimetic peptide licensed to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for worldwide commercialization. MIMRYLO is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of erythrocytosis in adults with PV. The Company also has a number of clinical and preclinical programs based on clinically and commercially validated targets and addressing unmet medical needs, including an oral IL-17 antagonist peptide, anti-obesity dual and triple agonists, an oral hepcidin functional mimetic, and the recently announced IL-4 and amylin discovery programs.
More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates, and clinical studies can be found on the Company''s website at https://www.protagonist-inc.com.
Position Summary
This role is accountable for delivering production-ready AI solutions that drive measurable business impact, not just strategy or advisory work. The individual will lead the design and deployment of AI-enabled products, platforms, and capabilities that enhance effectiveness and efficiency across R&D, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Finance, Legal, and Corporate Functions.
This role sits at the intersection of technology, science, operations, and governance. The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, ensuring AI initiatives move beyond experimentation to scalable, durable solutions aligned with the needs of a lean, clinical-stage biotech.
First-year priorities:
We are committed to a thriving in-office culture. This role requires being on-site at our office in Newark, CA 4 days a week.
Responsibilities
Enterprise AI Strategy & Vision
Define and own AI and digital transformation strategy aligned with corporate and scientific priorities
Identify high-impact use cases and prioritize based on value, feasibility, and risk
Develop a focused, right-sized roadmap balancing speed and scalability
AI Product Development & Deployment
Lead the design, build, and deployment of AI-enabled products and tools
Ensure solutions are production-ready, adopted, secure, and maintainable
Drive delivery of solutions that improve productivity, speed, and decision-making quality
Partner with internal teams and external vendors to build applications across analytics, automation, and decision support
Cross‑Functional Enablement
Embed AI into workflows across R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Finance, Legal, HR, and IT
Translate business and scientific needs into actionable technical requirements
Build trust through practical, explainable, and usable solutions
Data, Infrastructure & Governance
Partner with IT, Data, Legal, and Compliance teams to ensure robust data architecture, security, and access controls
Establish AI governance frameworks addressing model validation, bias, data provenance, regulatory scrutiny, and ethical use
Ensure compliance with global regulations, data privacy laws, and evolving AI‑related regulatory expectations
Leadership, Team & Culture
Build and lead a high‑performing AI and digital function (internal and/or external), including data scientists, engineers, and product leaders
Upskill the broader organization through education, change management, and practical AI literacy
Serve as a thought partner to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors on AI‑related opportunities and risks
Measurement & Value Realization
Define success metrics and KPIs for AI initiatives, with clear accountability for outcomes
Track adoption, performance, ROI, and risk across deployed AI solutions
Continuously refine strategy based on results, organizational maturity, and technological advances
Required Skills & Qualifications
Pay Range
The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $250,000 and $310,000/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Benefits
A top priority for Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. is to provide a robust and comprehensive health and wellness program for our employees and their families. We offer a variety of high-quality coverage and benefit options.