Director, Applied AI

Scorpion Therapeutics; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Healthcare coverage

ESPP

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics in South San Francisco seeks a senior AI leader to drive the applied AI strategy across the organization, moving ideas through data, models, and workflows into production. The role requires extensive hands-on AI/ML work, with a focus on regulated life sciences and cross-functional outcomes.

You will shape priorities, ensure compliant paths to production, and scale adoption of AI playbooks across teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (computer science, AI, data science, engineering) or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years building and delivering solutions with applied AI/ML; fluent in Python and hands-on building generative AI/LLM apps (RAG, fine-tuning, agentic workflows) through to production.
• Direct experience in regulated life sciences (pharma/biotech/medical devices), including GxP; familiarity with ISO/IEC 42001 and NIST AI RMF.
• Demonstrated experience driving cross-functional outcomes as a senior individual.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a recognized expert on the practical application of AI, setting standards across the company and advising teams and leadership.
• Own and drive Denali’s applied-AI strategy: determine where AI has a role, choose approaches, and set priorities.
• Partner with leaders to identify high-volume, workflow-specific problems beyond individual AI tools.
• Design, prototype, and build AI solutions hands-on, moving from idea to production and working directly with data, models, and workflows.
• Deliver measurable efficiency gains and use results to guide next AI focus areas.
• Present strategy, progress, wins, risks, and tradeoffs to senior leadership to drive investment decisions.
• Work with Legal, Quality, and Regulatory to enable compliant paths to production for safe AI use.
• Drive adoption and establish repeatable methods/playbooks to scale applied AI.

Skills

Bachelors/Masters in technical field

10+ years AI/ML experience

Python fluent

Gen AI / LLM apps

Regulated life sciences

GxP familiarity

ISO/IEC 42001 familiarity

NIST AI RMF familiarity

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/AI/DS/engineering

Job description

Key Accountabilities / Core Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as a recognized expert on the practical application of AI, setting standards across the company and advising teams and leadership.
• Own and drive Denali’s applied-AI strategy: determine where AI has a role, choose approaches, and set priorities.
• Partner with leaders to identify high-volume, workflow-specific problems beyond individual AI tools.
• Design, prototype, and build AI solutions hands-on, moving from idea to production and working directly with data, models, and workflows.
• Deliver measurable efficiency gains and use results to guide next AI focus areas.
• Present strategy, progress, wins, risks, and tradeoffs to senior leadership to drive investment decisions.
• Work with Legal, Quality, and Regulatory to enable compliant paths to production for safe AI use.
• Drive adoption and establish repeatable methods/playbooks to scale applied AI.

Qualifications / Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (computer science, AI, data science, engineering) or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years building and delivering solutions with applied AI/ML; fluent in Python and hands-on building generative AI/LLM apps (RAG, fine-tuning, agentic workflows) through to production.
• Direct experience in regulated life sciences (pharma/biotech/medical devices), including GxP; familiarity with ISO/IEC 42001 and NIST AI RMF.
• Demonstrated experience driving cross-functional outcomes as a senior individual.

Benefits:

• Competitive total rewards package including 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP.