AI Scientist, Agentic AI Discovery

SK Life Science; Paramus (NJ); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with company match

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

SK Life Science in US-NJ-Paramus is seeking an AI Scientist to design and prototype next-generation AI systems for drug discovery. You will explore emerging AI methodologies and translate ideas into scalable, production-ready solutions, collaborating with cross-functional teams.

The role demands hands-on prototyping, strong AI research background, and experience with Python and modern ML frameworks. Visa sponsorship is not available; US work authorization required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in AI-related fields, CS, computational biology, bioinformatics, ML, or related disciplines.
• At least 3 years of AI, ML, or applied research experience.
• US work authorization; visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate emerging AI techniques and reproduce state-of-the-art research approaches.
• Build experimental prototypes and reusable AI system architectures.
• Collaborate with cross-functional research and engineering teams to apply AI to drug discovery.

Skills

AI research

Rapid prototyping

Communication

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Teamwork

English

Education

Master's degree or higher in AI/CS

Tools

Python

PyTorch

Hugging Face

LangChain

LangGraph

LlamaIndex

Job description

AI Scientist, Agentic AI Discovery

Job Locations

US-NJ-Paramus

• ID: 2025-1931
• Category: Information Technology
• Type: Regular Full-Time

Overview

The AI Scientist will design, prototype, and advance next-generation AI systems for drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. This role focuses on exploring and applying emerging AI methodologies to accelerate scientific discovery, support data-driven decision-making, and improve R&D workflows across drug discovery programs.

The AI Scientist will contribute to the development of agentic AI systems, multi-agent workflows, and AI-driven scientific reasoning platforms that integrate advanced machine learning, large language models, and biomedical research applications. The role requires a strong balance of AI research understanding, hands‑on prototyping ability, and engineering execution to rapidly evaluate new ideas and translate them into scalable, production-ready solutions.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include evaluating emerging AI techniques, reproducing and extending state‑of‑the‑art research approaches, building experimental prototypes, and developing reusable AI system architectures that can support scientific exploration and therapeutic discovery. The AI Scientist will collaborate closely with cross‑functional research and engineering teams to identify high‑impact opportunities where AI can meaningfully improve discovery efficiency and insight generation. The ideal candidate is highly technical, deeply curious about frontier AI capabilities, and excited about applying advanced AI systems in real‑world drug discovery environments.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree or higher in AI-related fields, Computer Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, or related disciplines.
• Experience: At least 3 years of relevant experience in AI, machine learning, or applied research environments.
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• AI Engineering Skills: Strong AI engineering and coding skills, with hands‑on experience building scalable and production‑ready AI applications and systems.
• AI‑Assisted Development: Experience with AI‑assisted development and rapid prototyping workflows ("vibe coding") is highly desirable.
• Agentic AI: Strong interest or hands‑on experience in agentic AI systems, multi‑agent orchestration frameworks, AI reasoning workflows, and LLM‑based applications.
• Biomedical Research: Experience working with biomedical or life science datasets and AI‑driven scientific research platforms is highly desirable.
• Generative AI & LLMs: Experience working with modern large language model ecosystems, prompt engineering, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), or AI workflow orchestration frameworks is a plus.
• Technical Stack: Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with modern AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch, Hugging Face, LangChain, LangGraph, LlamaIndex, or similar ecosystems.
• Domain Knowledge: Ability to quickly learn and understand drug discovery and pharmaceutical R&D domains and connect them with AI solutions.
• Other Skills: Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving, interpersonal, and communication skills. Ability to excel in a fast‑paced, startup‑like environment with a focus on innovation and adaptability.
• English Proficiency: Professional‑level English communication skills.
• Track Record: Experience applying AI within drug discovery, healthcare, or life sciences is advantageous.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this position is $135,000 - $160,000. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs.

In addition to base salary, SK Life Science offers a competitive benefits package, including a 401(k) plan with company match and medical, dental, and vision coverage. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and may be modified at the Company's discretion.