Director, RDU IT - AI

AstraZeneca; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 25,00,000 - 35,00,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in Bengaluru is seeking a Director, RDU IT – AI to spearhead the implementation of Generative AI solutions. This role involves managing engineering teams, overseeing infrastructure for AI models, and ensuring the ethical use of AI. With a strong emphasis on leadership and collaboration, the ideal candidate should have extensive experience in AI solutions and a relevant degree. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of biomedical science.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in machine learning or software engineering.
• Experience with large language models and building GenAI applications.
• Strong record of delivering AI solutions in production.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and deployment of Generative AI models.
• Manage engineering teams while contributing to GenAI initiatives.
• Ensure smooth operation of GenAI models in production.

Skills

Generative AI expertise

Leadership and mentoring

Machine learning

MLOps practices

Collaboration across teams

Python programming

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Hugging Face Transformers

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS services

CI/CD tools

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Director, RDU IT – AI

Introduction to role: Are you ready to lead the charge in transforming digital landscapes with Generative AI? As a Director, RDU IT – AI, you'll spearhead the technical delivery and implementation of cutting-edge AI solutions. Reporting to the Director, RDU IT – Data Science, you'll manage and mentor engineering teams while actively contributing to the development, deployment, and scaling of GenAI capabilities. Your mission? To integrate these advanced tools into real-world business and scientific applications, ensuring technical excellence, operational reliability, and ethical alignment. Are you up for the challenge?

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, deployment, and continuous improvement of Generative AI models and systems addressing business and scientific challenges.
• Manage regional teams of engineers and technical contributors working on GenAI initiatives.
• Oversee the architecture, automation, and scalability of infrastructure supporting Generative AI models and services.
• Drive the integration of GenAI capabilities into existing enterprise platforms, tools, and applications.
• Ensure smooth operation and governance of GenAI models in production, including monitoring, versioning, and performance optimization.
• Contribute to the design of APIs, UIs, and workflows that enable seamless interaction with GenAI systems.
• Build and maintain shared assets, templates, and frameworks to accelerate GenAI solution delivery across the region.
• Support collaboration across functions with data scientists, engineers, and interested parties to align on delivery goals and priorities.
• Promote responsible use of AI technologies and contribute to compliance with evolving governance and regulatory requirements.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in machine learning, data science, or software engineering, with a strong track record of delivering AI solutions in production.
• Demonstrated expertise in Generative AI, including experience with large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, fine-tuning, or building GenAI-powered applications.
• Proven leadership experience managing technical teams, with the ability to coach, mentor, and guide engineers toward high-performance delivery.
• Proficient in translating technical concepts into actionable plans, effectively communicating with collaborators, and aligning engineering efforts with organizational objectives.
• Experience working across regions or distributed teams, with a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Hands-on experience with MLOps practices for GenAI, including model deployment, automation, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with libraries such as Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Solid knowledge of cloud services relevant to GenAI, especially AWS based (e.g., SageMaker, Bedrock, Lambda, ECS).
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control tools such as GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or Bitbucket Pipelines.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Hands-on experience designing and deploying LLM-based systems in enterprise settings, including use cases such as content generation, summarization, document parsing, or chat-based interfaces.
• Deep understanding of the unique challenges in managing GenAI models, including context window limitations, hallucination risks, and performance tuning.
• Experience applying GenAI techniques within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare domains.
• Familiarity with emerging best practices for responsible GenAI usage, including model explainability, prompt safety, and ethical risk mitigation.
• Contribution to GenAI-focused communities, open-source projects, or thought leadership (e.g., publications, hackathons, blog posts).

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca's Alexion division, you’ll find yourself at the forefront of biomedical science. Our commitment to transparency and ethics drives us to push boundaries and translate complex biology into transformative medicines. With resources and global reach at our disposal, we are uniquely positioned to shape the future of rare disease treatment. Here you’ll grow in a rapidly expanding portfolio while enjoying an entrepreneurial spirit that fosters innovation. You’ll be part of a culture that values diversity and connection to patients’ lived experiences. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference where it truly counts.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join our team!

Date Posted

03-Oct-2025

Closing Date

16-Oct-2025

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lackthereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]. Alexion participates in E-Verify.