Senior AI Scientist

IQVIA Ltd. (GB80); London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading clinical research organization in London is seeking a Senior AI Scientist who will architect, develop, and deploy AI/ML solutions. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and extensive experience in fine-tuning LLMs. The role involves leading innovative projects that impact life sciences, ensuring high-quality results in fast-paced environments.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, or related field with strong publication record.
• Extensive experience in fine-tuning/distillation of large-scale language models.
• Deep proficiency in Python and AI/ML frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the fine-tuning, distillation, and deployment of LLMs for clinical research.
• Drive data engineering processes to convert data into trainable datasets.
• Design and implement AI agents for autonomous reasoning.

Job description

At IQVIA, we are continuously expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in clinical development through advanced analytics, cutting-edge technology, and deep scientific expertise. Within our Research & Development Solutions (RDS) organization, we are enhancing our services with agentic systems—autonomous AI agents that can reason, plan, act, and learn—to further streamline clinical trial workflows and accelerate the delivery of new therapies. By embedding these capabilities into our service offerings for our customers and the clinical sites that we engage with to run clinical trials, we not only strengthen our leadership in AI-driven clinical research, but also bring life-changing treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

Are you ready to lead and shape the future of Generative AI in life sciences? As a Senior AI Scientist at IQVIA, you will play a pivotal role in architecting, developing, and deploying 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 language 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 that delivers 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 both 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 language 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 generation (RAG) pipelines.
• Familiarity with regulatory and privacy considerations in healthcare AI applications.

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