Senior AI Scientist

ZipRecruiter; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A global clinical research leader is seeking a Senior AI Scientist to lead innovative AI/ML solutions that transform pharmaceutical operations. The ideal candidate will have a PhD and extensive experience with large-scale models, showcasing abilities to mentor, communicate effectively, and manage stakeholder engagements. This role focuses on advanced AI strategies to enhance clinical research workflows through autonomous AI agents.

Qualifications

• Strong publication record in top-tier AI conferences.
• Hands-on expertise in SFT, PPO, and reward modeling.
• Experience with modern vector and graph databases.

Responsibilities

• Lead fine-tuning and deployment of LLMs in clinical research.
• Drive data engineering for high-quality datasets.
• Implement AI agents using Agentic AI framework.

Skills

Python

Fine-tuning large-scale models

AI/ML frameworks

Communication skills

Project management

Education

PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field

Tools

PyTorch

LangChain

Graph databases

Azure

Job description

Overview

At IQVIA, we are expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in clinical development through advanced analytics, technology, and deep scientific expertise. Within our Research & Development Solutions (RDS) organization, we are enhancing our services with agentic AI—autonomous AI agents that can reason, plan, act, and learn—to streamline clinical trial workflows and accelerate the delivery of new therapies. By embedding these capabilities into our service offerings for customers and the clinical sites we engage with, we strengthen our leadership in AI-driven clinical research and bring life-changing treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

Role

Senior AI Scientist at IQVIA, you will lead the architecture, development, and deployment of cutting-edge AI/ML solutions that transform how pharmaceutical companies operate and innovate. You will work at the forefront of machine learning, leading initiatives that leverage large models (LLMs), agentic AI, and advanced optimization techniques to deliver real-world impact.

Role Summary

IQVIA’s AI Scientist Group is a strategic innovation unit delivering tailored, state-of-the-art AI solutions to pharmaceutical and life sciences clients. As a Senior AI Scientist, you will lead the design and execution of AI strategies, drive model development and experimentation, and guide internal and external stakeholders through the implementation of scalable Generative AI solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the fine-tuning, distillation, and deployment of LLMs for high-impact use cases in clinical research and commercial life sciences.
• Drive data engineering processes to convert structured and unstructured data into high-quality, trainable datasets.
• Design and implement AI agents using IQVIA’s Agentic AI framework to enable autonomous reasoning and task completion.
• Spearhead the development of proof-of-concept models and guide transition to production-ready systems.
• Stay at the forefront of advances in LLMs and generative techniques; evaluate and apply relevant methodologies such as SFT, PPO, and reward modeling.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior scientists and engineers.
• Serve as a key technical voice in client engagements—translating complex AI concepts into actionable business insights.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and domain experts to ensure AI solutions align with customer needs and compliance frameworks.
• Contribute to publication strategies and represent IQVIA at leading AI/ML conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR).

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field, with a strong publication record in top-tier AI conferences.
• Extensive experience with fine-tuning/distillation of large-scale models, with hands-on expertise in SFT, PPO, and reward modeling.
• Deep proficiency in Python and AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch, LangChain, LangGraph, GraphRAG, and AutoGen.
• Experience with modern vector and graph databases (e.g., ChromaDB, Neo4j) and LLMOps platforms (e.g., Azure, Databricks, Azure OpenAI).
• Proven track record of delivering scalable AI solutions in enterprise settings, preferably in life sciences.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead projects and consult directly with senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing multiple projects, driving timelines, and delivering high-quality results in fast-paced environments.

Bonus

• Experience in deploying multi-agent frameworks and retrieval-augmented (RAG) pipelines.
• Familiarity with regulatory and privacy considerations in healthcare AI applications.

About IQVIA

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights, and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at https://jobs.iqvia.com