Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Team Leader (m/f/d)

Selvita; Kraków; On-site; PLN 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Prepaid lunch card

Private medical care

Subsidized sports card

Office fruit provision

Internal development programs

Recognition Program

Employee Referral Program

PhD incentive

Job summary

Selvita is seeking an AI/ML Team Leader to head a multidisciplinary AI team and accelerate AI-enabled preclinical drug discovery, development and digital transformation. You will lead scientific AI initiatives, client-facing delivery, people management and practical AI/ML implementation across discovery workflows.

The role requires building a high-impact AI function that expands Selvita’s AI-enabled services, strengthens digital transformation and delivers measurable value for pharma clients

Qualifications

• Master or PhD in machine learning, computer science, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, computational chemistry, statistics, physics or related discipline.
• At least 7 years of AI/ML experience, ideally in drug discovery, development or computational chemistry in pharma/biotech/CRO.
• Strong knowledge of modern AI/ML, model validation and scientific software development.
• Advanced Python skills with ML frameworks, GPU acceleration, Git-based workflows, Linux/Unix and containerization.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific projects and translating client needs into AI solutions.
• Strong client-facing communication, mentoring, project management and stakeholder management.
• Fluent professional and scientific English.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of AI/ML models and workflows for computational chemistry and bioinformatics.
• Translate challenges into practical AI tools, workflows and production-ready solutions.
• Drive AI-driven digitalization by contributing to AI-enabled services and internal tools.
• Connect AI delivery with data platforms, compute infrastructure and governance.
• Collaborate with drug discovery teams and clients on offers, negotiations and delivery.
• Contribute to grant-funded R&D and internal IP development.
• Manage and mentor the AI/ML team and promote ML engineering best practices.
• Support organization-wide AI capability building and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Python

GPU acceleration

Git workflows

Linux/Unix

Containerization

ML frameworks

Deep learning

English

Client-facing communication

Mentoring

Education

Master or PhD in ML/CS/cheminformatics/bioinformatics

Tools

KNIME

Shiny/R

Job description

Selvita is a global integrated service provider with laboratories in Poland (Krakow, Poznan, and Wroclaw), Croatia (Zagreb), and offices in Cambridge, UK, as well as the Greater Boston Area and San Francisco Bay Area in the US. Our company is dedicated to delivering comprehensive solutions that support our international clients in drug discovery and drug development.

As one of the largest preclinical contract research organizations in Europe, Selvita is driven by a clear mission: to bridge the gap between early drug discovery and the clinical stage of drug development.

At Selvita, we value partnership, excellence, passion, commitment, and integrity. We build strong, collaborative relationships with our clients and commit to the highest standards of quality. We fuel our pursuit of innovative solutions with enthusiasm, advance drug development with focused dedication, and ensure honesty and transparency in all our work.

We are looking for an AI/ML Team Leader to lead a multidisciplinary AI Team and accelerate AI-enabled preclinical drug discovery, drug development and company-wide digital transformation. The role combines scientific AI leadership, client-facing delivery, people management and practical implementation of AI/ML and automation across the discovery value chain. You will be responsible for helping build a high-impact AI function that expands Selvita’s AI-enabled services, strengthens internal digital transformation, and delivers measurable value for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients through scalable AI/ML solutions in preclinical R&D.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of AI/ML models and workflows for computational chemistry and bioinformatics.
• Translate preclinical drug discovery and drug development challenges into practical AI tools, analytical workflows and production-ready solutions embedded in scientific processes.
• Drive Selvita’s AI-driven digitalization strategy by contributing to AI-enhanced services, internal AI tools, data-driven workflows and automation across drug discovery & drug development.
• Connect AI delivery with the company’s digital backbone: data platforms, compute infrastructure, governance, model validation and workflow integration.
• Cooperate with drug discovery teams and clients, providing scientific input for offers, negotiations, client meetings, project planning and delivery.
• Contribute to grant-funded R&D, internal IP generation and strategic AI/ML platforms.
• Manage and mentor the AI/ML team: assign goals, monitor progress, provide feedback, strengthen team performance and promote best practices in ML engineering and scientific reporting.
• Support AI capability building across the organization through knowledge sharing, AI Academy activities and responsible use of AI/ML and automation.

Your Background

• Master or PhD degree in machine learning, computer science, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, computational chemistry, statistics, physics or a related discipline.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in AI/ML, ideally in drug discovery, drug development, computational chemistry, bioinformatics in a pharmaceutical, biotech or a CRO environment.
• Strong knowledge of modern AI/ML, model validation and scientific software development.
• Advanced Python skills with experience in scientific ML/deep-learning frameworks, GPU acceleration, Git-based workflows, Linux/Unix environments and containerization.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific projects and translating business or client needs into feasible AI/ML solutions.
• Strong client-facing communication, mentoring, project management and stakeholder-management skills.
• Fluent professional and scientific English.

Nice to have:

• Experience with LLMs, RAG pipelines, AI agents, Protein Language Models or generative AI for life sciences.
• Knowledge of CADD platforms, QSAR/ADMET modelling, Omics analytics, HCS/image analysis, KNIME, Shiny/R.
• Familiarity with MLOps, cloud or lakehouse architectures, data governance, GDPR, EU AI Act considerations or regulated data environments.
• Experience in proposal preparation, grant writing or scientific consulting.

Your Benefits Package

• Daily cooperation and know-how exchange with experts.
• Additional benefits: a prepaid lunch card, private medical care, subsidized sports card, and office fruit provision.
• Internal Development initiatives, including soft & leadership skills training programs.
• Recognition Program.
• Employee Referral Program.
• Various sports and engagement initiatives.
• Support & incentive bonus for completing PhD.