Director of AI Optimization and Productization - R&D Data Science & Digital Health

Johnson & Johnson; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical and medical technology company is looking for a Director of AI Optimization and Productization in High Wycombe. This role involves leading the AI optimization efforts in R&D, collaborating with various teams to deploy large-scale AI solutions, and mentoring junior team members. The ideal candidate has over 8 years of experience and a strong technical background in AI and machine learning.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in AI model development, optimization, and deployment.
• Deep expertise in various MLOps frameworks and deployment pipelines.
• Experience in Life Sciences, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, or Medical Tech sector preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with AI scientists to optimize AI models for training and deployment.
• Guide productization of AI models into applications for clinical trials.
• Attract, grow, and lead a technical team focused on AI optimization.

Skills

Advanced Analytics

Data Analysis

Strategic Thinking

Leadership

Program Management

Education

PhD or Master’s in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Biomedical Engineering, or related field

Tools

MLOps frameworks

AWS

Job description

Job Function

Data Analytics & Computational Sciences

Job Sub Function

Data Science

Job Category

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

Job Description

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (IM) is recruiting for a Director of AI Optimization and Productization - R&D Data Science & Digital Health. This position can be located in Titusville, NJ; Spring House, PA; La Jolla, CA; Cambridge, MA or London, United Kingdom. This position will require up to 25% travel.

For candidates based in the US, please use Req: R-035871

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced technical, hands‑on, leader in AI optimization and productization to join our Data Science & Digital Health (DSDH) team within Research & Development (R&D). This role reports directly to the Vice President of AI/ML & Digital Health. The team will support the training, optimization, and deployment of AI models and AI products across the R&D value chain. In close collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Technology (JJT), this leader will leverage enterprise MLOps and DevOps frameworks to implement good AI development practices and life cycle management across DSDH AI projects. A key focus will be optimizing AI models and code for large-scale training, inference performance, and product deployment, working alongside JJT and external partners. Additionally, the role will guide the development of AI applications in areas such as discovery, biomarkers, and clinical endpoints. This leader will engage across the enterprise, partnering with DSDH teams, JJT, and therapeutic areas within J&J Innovative Medicine R&D, while also interfacing with senior stakeholders throughout the organization.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with AI scientists in DSDH, R&D partners, and JJT to optimize AI models for large-scale training, inference performance, and their deployment in AI products.
• Guide and supervise the productization of AI models into applications deployed within R&D or clinical trials for discovery, biomarkers, and clinical endpoints.
• Oversee the use of enterprise MLOps frameworks within DSDH in close collaboration with JJT, following company best practices and frameworks and managing the life cycle of DSDH AI models.
• Actively modeling and planning for compute capacity across DSDH projects, in partnership with the DSDH Data Strategy & Platform team and JJT.
• Work closely with DSDH, JJT, therapeutic areas, functions, and senior stakeholders across the enterprise to promote cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Attract, grow, and lead a high-performing technical team focused on AI optimization, productization, and life cycle management.
• Mentor junior team members and foster a culture of continuous learning.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD or Master’s) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. Additional training or certification in MLOps, AI optimization, product life cycle is a plus
• 8+ years of experience in AI model development, model optimization, and deployment, including managing product life cycle (design, development, testing, deployment, operations & maintenance, etc.).
• Excellent coding and software development capabilities, effectively leading a technical team and partners towards the creation of scalable AI solutions.
• Deep expertise in using MLOps frameworks, deployment pipelines, and monitoring tools, including familiarity with cloud platforms and containerization tools. Experience with AWS is preferred.
• Experience with Agile and DevOps methodologies
• Experience with regulatory compliance and governance (e.g. GxP, SaMD, etc.).
• Strong experience in leading a technical team, and ability to work in a matrixed organization on complex, multi-stakeholder projects
• Excellent communication skills and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Ability to align technical execution with strategic business goals and enterprise-wide initiatives and frameworks.
• Experience in Life Sciences, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical or Medical Tech sector is preferred

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson and Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, please email the Employee Health Support Center ([e-mail]) or contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills

Preferred Skills

Advanced Analytics, Budget Management, Compliance Management, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Privacy Standards, Data Quality, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Data Science, Data Visualization, Developing Others, Digital Fluency, Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Program Management, Strategic Thinking, Succession Planning