Senior Principal DSX Data Scientist

F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG; Northampton; On-site; CAD 149,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche seeks a Senior Principal DSX Data Scientist to lead scalable data-science platforms within Product Development Data Sciences (PDD). You will guide automation of programming workflows, create reusable computational tools, and translate complex needs into robust solutions for regulatory-aligned analytics.

You will collaborate with biostatisticians, clinical scientists, and programmers, leading large initiatives across time zones and geographies and shaping the future of Roche’s statistical

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in a quantitative field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in data science, statistical computing, or platform development.
• Recognized expert in building and scaling scientific software systems with clinical research exposure.
• Proficient in Python and R with reproducible HPC practices.
• Demonstrated leadership of major cross-functional initiatives with technical complexity.

Responsibilities

• Develop scalable tools, environments, and workflows for statistical computing across PDD.
• Lead automation of programming workflows and reusable macros.
• Translate scientific needs into robust, modular data-science solutions.
• Influence platform architecture and governance with stakeholders.
• Communicate complex ideas clearly to senior stakeholders and drive adoption.

Skills

Python

R

Data Science

Statistical Computing

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

PhD in Computer Science/Data Science/Statistics/Engineering

Master’s in quantitative field

Job description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

This role is in Analytical Data Science, a core function within Product Development Data Sciences (PDD) that provides strategic leadership and scientific rigor across Development at Roche. PDD Analytical Data Science teams are mobilized across the portfolio to generate data-driven insights, identify opportunities for scale, and implement impactful solutions. PDD Analytical Data Science is recognized as a leading hub for top industry talent, operating as an agile workforce to deliver regulatory commitments across the portfolio. We identify, influence, and adopt industry-leading digital and automation solutions, develop analytical approaches to support exploratory analyses, and align statistical programming practices across both early- and late-stage clinical development.

The Opportunity

The Senior Principal DSX Data Scientist in the Data Science Acceleration (DSX) team is responsible for developing scalable tools, environments, and workflows that enable efficient, high-quality statistical computing across Product Development Data Sciences (PDD). This role focuses on creating and maintaining next-generation capabilities that support automation of programming workflows, generation of reusable coding macros, and advanced data visualization. Working closely with statistical programmers, biostatisticians, and clinical scientists, the Data Scientist translates scientific and operational needs into robust, modular, and user-friendly solutions that streamline evidence generation and support faster, more reliable decision-making across the development pipeline. You provide strategic and technical leadership in the design and evolution of Roche’s next-generation statistical computing platforms, ensuring they meet the future needs of PDD and the broader organization. You anticipate emerging industry trends, technologies, and regulatory shifts, and translate them into forward-looking data science capabilities, frameworks, and standards. You lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives that redefine how clinical, operational, or real-world data are processed, visualized, and interpreted for decision-making. You serve as a senior technical advisor to platform owners, programming and statistical leadership, and governance teams on complex topics involving infrastructure, automation, and scientific computing. You guide technical vision, architectural decisions, and resource planning for high-impact tooling and infrastructure projects across DSX. You resolve complex, system-level challenges across disciplines by applying deep scientific computing expertise and systems thinking. You influence internal policy and development standards, and drive adoption of best practices that scale across teams, functions, and geographies. You communicate complex technical ideas clearly to senior-level stakeholders and shape decisions on investment, tooling strategy, and portfolio priorities. You foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and innovation through mentorship, internal community building, and knowledge sharing.

Who you are

• You hold a PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• You have a minimum of 10 years of experience in data science, statistical computing, or platform development, with a demonstrated track record of impact at organizational or cross-functional levels
• You are a recognized expert in building and scaling scientific or statistical software systems, with deep understanding of clinical research environments and regulatory implications
• You bring expertise in multiple programming environments (e.g., Python, R) and development practices for reproducible, compliant, and high-performance computing
• You have demonstrated leadership of major programs or cross-functional initiatives with technical complexity and strategic significance
• You demonstrate capacity for independent thinking and ability to make decisions based upon sound principles
• You bring excellent strategic agility including problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and agility that extends beyond the technical domain
• You demonstrate respect for cultural differences when interacting with colleagues in the global workplace
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders and explain technical strategy with clarity and confidence
• You have proven experience leading global, cross-functional projects or workstreams, demonstrating effective coordination across time zones and diverse stakeholder groups

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience shaping the architecture and long-term roadmap of enterprise-scale data science platforms or statistical computing environments
• Demonstrated ability to influence regulatory and quality frameworks in the context of digital and analytical tools
• Strategic understanding of healthcare data ecosystems, including real-world data, translational pipelines, and high-dimensional data integration
• Proven ability to drive tool adoption and cultural change through technical leadership, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful design
• Engagement with external scientific or developer communities (e.g., open-source contributions, industry consortia, conference presentations)
• Experience guiding investment and resource decisions for high-impact tooling or analytics initiatives
• Ability to synthesize organizational priorities and translate them into impactful, technically sound solutions at scale

Relocation benefits are not available for this posting

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of Mississauga is 148,568.00 and 194,995.50 of hiring range. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors as determined by the company.

We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess or select applicants for this role.

This posting is for an existing vacancy at Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Who we are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact. Let’s build a healthier future, together. Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives. We are courageous in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world. That is why we come to work each day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigor, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow. We are proud of who we are, what we do, and how we do it. We are many, working as one across functions, across companies, and across the world. We are Roche.