Associate Director & Senior Principal Data Science, AI for Biologics

Novartis Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 89,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

insurance plans

retirement plans

wellbeing resources

global recognition programs

flexible and hybrid working options

minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leaf

Job summary

Novartis in Dublin, Ireland seeks Associate Director & Senior Principal Data Science, AI for Biologics to lead AI-driven biologics research, antibody discovery and protein design. You will translate scientific questions into high-value AI opportunities and partner with scientists, data scientists, engineers and external research leaders.

You will mentor teams, shape scientific strategy, evaluate new AI models, and drive collaborations with academia and industry.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent experience in ML/biotech related field.
• Experience translating scientific challenges into AI solutions.
• Proven leadership influencing cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI-enabled biologics R&D, antibody discovery and protein design.
• Translate complex drug-discovery challenges into AI opportunities with clear hypotheses.
• Develop and evaluate AI methods for protein structure prediction and generative design.
• Assess emerging AI models and technologies for drug-discovery value.
• Lead cross-functional PoC studies linking computation to experiments.
• Mentor scientists and translate AI advances into impact.

Skills

AI for biologics

Machine learning for biology

Protein engineering

Drug discovery

Cross-functional leadership

Model evaluation & validation

Education

Doctoral degree or equivalent in ML/comp biology/bioinformatics/structural biology

Job description

Summary

Job Title: Associate Director & Senior Principal Data Science, AI for Biologics

Job Title: Associate Director & Senior Principal Data Science, AI for Biologics

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Relocation Support: This role is based in Dublin, Ireland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

What if your expertise in AI and protein science could help shape the next generation of biologics? In this highly influential scientific role, you will help advance how AI is applied to biologics, antibody discovery and engineering, and protein structure and design. Working at the intersection of cutting-edge AI and drug discovery, you will partner with scientists, data scientists, engineers and external research leaders to evaluate emerging technologies, turn complex scientific questions into high-value AI opportunities, and translate innovation into measurable impact for patients.

About The Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead scientific innovation in AI-enabled biologics, antibody discovery, protein engineering, and protein design.
• Translate complex drug-discovery challenges into well-defined AI opportunities with clear hypotheses, evaluation methods, and success criteria.
• Develop and evaluate rigorous AI methods for protein structure prediction, biological foundation models, and generative molecular design.
• Assess emerging AI models, datasets, and technologies for scientific maturity, differentiation, limitations, and drug-discovery value.
• Lead cross-functional proof-of-concept studies connecting computational performance with experimental validation and meaningful scientific outcomes.
• Partner with engineering, product, data, and platform teams to transform successful innovations into reusable AI capabilities.
• Build strategic collaborations with academia, biotechnology companies, technology organizations, and external research partners.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations on which emerging technologies to explore, partner on, scale, internalize, or deprioritize.
• Influence scientific strategy by communicating evidence, uncertainty, trade-offs, risks, and potential value to senior stakeholders.
• Mentor scientists and data scientists, strengthening scientific judgment and translating AI advances into drug-discovery impact.

Essential Requirements

• Doctoral degree or equivalent experience in machine learning, computational biology, bioinformatics, structural biology, protein engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least five years’ hands-on experience translating complex scientific or biomedical challenges into machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions.
• Practical experience applying protein language models, generative models, or other artificial intelligence methods to biomolecular sequence and structure data.
• Deep expertise in biologics or antibody discovery, connecting computational predictions with experimental decisions and downstream development considerations.
• Proven experience designing rigorous model evaluation and validation studies, including benchmarking, prospective testing, or experimental validation.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership, influencing cross-functional stakeholders and translating artificial intelligence innovation into measurable drug-discovery or portfolio impact.

Desirable Requirements

• Knowledge of molecular dynamics, statistical potentials, or structural bioinformatics applied to protein and biologics research.
• Strong scientific standing demonstrated through publications, patents, external collaborations, invited presentations, open-source contributions, or professional leadership.

Rewards

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and a minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leave.

• insurance plans
• retirement plans
• wellbeing resources
• global recognition programs
• flexible and hybrid working options, where possible
• a minimum of 14 weeks paid parental leave

Pay

The salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. Further details will be provided during the application process.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Salary Range

• Dublin: 89,180.00 - 165,620.00 EUR Annual

Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements, including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package, including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity, will be communicated separately to you during the application process.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering: https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion / EEO Paragraph

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams’ representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Why Novartis

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards

Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)