Director, Generative Biotherapeutics Design & Optimization

Eli Lilly and Company; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 194,000 - 339,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly in San Diego is hiring a Director of Generative Design & Optimization to lead de novo biologics design. You will oversee design generation, conditioning, sampling, scoring, and sequence selection across therapeutic programs, guiding a team of AI researchers and computational scientists.

You will collaborate with Foundation Models and Active Learning teams, shaping strategy, evaluating results, and advancing AI-enabled discovery in biotherapeutics.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in computer science, computational biology, bioengineering, chemistry, physics, or related STEM with 3+ years experience; or MS with 6+ years; or BS with 8+ years.
• Track record leading computational or generative molecular design efforts with experimental validation.
• Experience building training/evaluation datasets for sequence, structure, or molecular design.
• Strong Python skills and experience with a modern deep learning framework and GPU computing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the scientific execution of de novo biologics design capabilities from foundation-model outputs to testable candidates.
• Define and drive the design workstream end-to-end: generation, conditioning, sampling, scoring, optimization, and selection.
• Guide AI researchers and computational scientists; mentor and set technical direction and standards.
• Collaborate with Foundation Models and Active Learning teams; translate results into next iterations.
• Establish metrics linking computational design to experimental outcomes and therapeutic goals.

Skills

Python

Deep learning

Education

PhD in computer science / computational biology / related STEM

MS with 6+ years

BS with 8+ years

Tools

GPU computing

Deep learning frameworks (PyTorch / TensorFlow)

Job description

Lilly in San Diego is hiring a Director of Generative Design & Optimization to lead de novo biologics design. You will oversee design generation, conditioning, sampling, scoring, and sequence selection across therapeutic programs, guiding a team of AI researchers and computational scientists.

You will collaborate with Foundation Models and Active Learning teams, shaping strategy, evaluating results, and advancing AI-enabled discovery in biotherapeutics.