AI/ML Engineer, Drug Discovery (Contractor)

Socket.dev; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

Vividion Therapeutics, Inc. is seeking a hands-on AI/ML Engineer to apply data science, machine learning, and informatics to drug discovery.

You will work closely with scientists to translate questions into practical models, workflows, and reproducible analyses. The role spans data prep, feature engineering, model development, validation, and deployment, with opportunities to extend into production AI systems and large language model applications in a collaborative, fast-paced setting in San

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field or related area.
• 4+ years applying data science, ML, informatics, or software engineering to real-world problems.
• Proficiency with Python and SQL and common data analysis libraries.
• Ability to transform scientific questions into technical approaches and deliverables.
• Experience in reproducible workflows, version control, testing, and reviews.
• Strong written and verbal communication to diverse audiences.
• Collaborative and curious in a fast-moving research environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with researchers to define high-value use cases and translate questions into ML solutions.
• Build, evaluate, and improve predictive models with structured and unstructured data.
• Develop reproducible data pipelines for ingestion, cleaning, integration, and QC.
• Apply informatics methods to support drug discovery decisions.
• Perform exploratory analysis, communicate findings, and recommend modeling approaches.
• Write maintainable Python/SQL code and contribute to reusable tools and APIs.
• Collaborate with engineering to productionize models and workflows.
• Implement experiment tracking, versioning, testing, documentation, and retraining.
• Contribute to AI-enabled applications, including LLM or agent-based solutions when relevant.
• Document data sources, methods, architectures, experiments, and results for audiences.
• Balance rapid experimentation with rigor, data quality, and reliability.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data analysis

Machine learning

Informatics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Git

Job description

Description

*Note: this is a 6-month contract position, with possibility of extension. Local candidates based in San Diego are strongly preferred. Remote candidates will also be considered based on qualifications.*

Company Overview:

Vividion is a next generation biotechnology company based in San Diego that is leveraging its proprietary chemical proteomics platform to conduct proteome-wide footprinting of drug-protein interactions with unprecedented breadth and precision. Our technology allows us to screen, identify and optimize novel drugs that selectively bind virtually any protein, including proteins previously considered “undruggable”. Our pipeline and emerging programs reflect a matured and productive platform capable of delivering first in class drugs utilizing novel mechanisms of action (allosteric inhibitors, protein-protein interaction inhibitors, functional activators, degraders etc.) against undruggable targets in the oncology and immunology space.

We prize scientific excellence, creativity, team players and we are committed to continued innovation. We have worked hard to create a collaborative and dynamic work culture where your ideas and discoveries are valued and will have an impact. We are growing and there are opportunities for mentorship and career progression.

Vividion has been recognized as a Top Workplace by The San Diego Union-Tribune from 2022 to 2025.

Job Summary:

Vividion is seeking a hands‑on AI/ML Engineer with experience applying data science, machine learning, and informatics approaches to drug discovery. This role is well suited for a collaborative builder who can work directly with scientists, understand scientific questions, and translate complex data into practical models, analytical tools, and reproducible workflows.

The successful candidate will contribute across the full solution lifecycle, including data preparation, exploratory analysis, feature engineering, model development, validation, deployment, and ongoing improvement. The emphasis is on delivering useful, reliable solutions for scientific teams, with opportunities to expand into production AI systems, large language model applications, and agent‑based workflows.

Requirements

Essential Duties and responsibilities:

• Partner with research scientists and data stakeholders to define high‑value use cases and translate scientific questions into analytical and machine learning solutions.
• Build, evaluate, and improve predictive models using structured and unstructured scientific data.
• Develop reproducible data pipelines for data ingestion, cleaning, integration, feature generation, and quality control.
• Apply data science, cheminformatics, and related informatics methods to support drug discovery research and decision‑making.
• Perform exploratory data analysis, communicate findings clearly, and recommend appropriate modeling approaches.
• Write maintainable Python and SQL code and contribute to reusable analytical tools, services, and APIs.
• Collaborate with engineering partners to move models and workflows into reliable production or research environments.
• Implement sound practices for experiment tracking, model versioning, testing, documentation, monitoring, and retraining.
• Contribute to AI‑enabled applications, including large language model, Copilot, or agent‑based solutions, when appropriate for the use case.
• Document data sources, assumptions, methods, architectures, experiments, and results for technical and scientific audiences.
• Balance rapid experimentation with scientific rigor, data quality, reproducibility, and operational reliability.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, computational science, cheminformatics, bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• At least 4 years of relevant professional experience applying data science, machine learning, informatics, or software engineering methods to real‑world problems.
• Hands‑on proficiency with Python and SQL, including common data analysis and machine learning libraries.
• Experience preparing complex datasets, engineering features, developing models, and evaluating model performance.
• Ability to translate ambiguous scientific or business questions into clear technical approaches and deliverables.
• Experience developing reproducible workflows and using software engineering practices such as version control, testing, and code review.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical work to non‑technical and scientific stakeholders.
• Collaborative working style, intellectual curiosity, and comfort iterating in a fast‑moving research environment.

Pay:

The hourly pay for this position ranges from $45.00 to $70.00 depending on relevant skills, competencies, experience, and education.

EEO & Employment Eligibility:

Vividion Therapeutics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Privacy Policy:

The protection of your personal information is a commitment we take seriously. For information regarding our Privacy Policy (CA candidates) please visit https://vividion.com/publication/privacy-noticeforcalifornia-candidates/.