Head of R&D, AI Integrations

eResearch Technology Inc; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Clario, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, seeks a Head of Research & Development to shape long-term engineering strategy and lead global R&D efforts focusing on AI/ML integration across platforms. You will guide architecture, roadmaps, and cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, AI-driven clinical trial solutions.

You will oversee budget, talent, and regulatory compliance while driving innovation, quality, and patient outcomes in a fast-paced, enterprise environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an IT-related, scientific, or technical field.
• 15+ years leading enterprise-level R&D organizations or large-scale strategic technology programs.
• Proven experience managing Agile with a focus on MLOps and CI/CD for AI.
• Extensive cloud experience (AWS/Azure) with cloud-native AI/ML services.
• Strong background in regulated environments and data privacy (GDPR/HIPAA).
• Demonstrated success in leading geographically diverse teams and programs.
• Knowledge of enterprise solution architecture and information security standards for AI.
• Experience in life sciences, clinical trials, or regulated industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define product architecture, company vision, and long-term technical strategy, prioritizing AI-driven modernization across the platform.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable global R&D roadmaps, identifying opportunities for Generative AI and predictive modeling.
• Lead global, multidisciplinary software development and engineering test teams to deliver AI/ML-enabled solutions.
• Balance innovation with operational excellence by maintaining existing platforms while expanding AI-augmented offerings.
• Own global R&D budget planning and resource management, ensuring investment in AI infrastructure and data science talent.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on technical excellence and ethical AI in clinical settings.
• Oversee administrative R&D functions including talent acquisition and training.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs/SWIs and regulatory adherence for AI-enabled medical software.
• Act as senior escalation point with customers, Operations, and Engineering to refine AI model performance.
• Provide transparent reporting on delivery status, risk, ROI of AI/ML initiatives.
• Build strategic relationships with technology partners and vendors to enhance internal AI capabilities.

Skills

Leadership experience

Agile methodologies

AI/ML in production

MLOps/CI-CD for AI

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure)

Regulated environments knowledge

Data privacy knowledge (GDPR/HIPAA)

Strategic technology leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT/science/technical field

Tools

SageMaker

Azure AI

Job description

Clario, a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, is a global leader in clinical trial technology. We combine deep scientific expertise with the industry’s broadest endpoint collection platform to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies deliver life‑changing therapies to patients. As we continue to scale, we are seeking a Head of Research & Development to lead the evolution of our global technology organization. This role serves as a key technical and organizational leader, responsible for shaping Clario’s long‑term engineering strategy while ensuring the stability, scalability, and quality of our current and next‑generation platforms, with a particular focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to accelerate clinical outcomes.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to lead global, enterprise‑scale technology teams delivering mission‑critical clinical trial solutions
• A collaborative, high‑impact environment focused on innovation, quality, and patient outcomes
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits aligned to U.S. market practices

What You’ll Be Doing

• Partner with executive leadership to define product architecture, company vision, and long‑term technical strategy, prioritizing AI-driven modernization across the platform
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable global R&D roadmaps, identifying key opportunities for Generative AI and predictive modeling to enhance endpoint collection
• Lead global, multidisciplinary software development and engineering test teams to deliver high‑quality, well‑architected solutions that incorporate AI/ML frameworks
• Balance innovation and operational excellence by maintaining existing platforms while expanding next‑generation, AI‑augmented product offerings
• Own global R&D budget planning and resource management, ensuring adequate investment in AI infrastructure, data science talent, and emerging tech
• Foster a high‑performance culture focused on technical excellence, innovation, accountability, and the ethical application of AI in clinical settings
• Oversee administrative R&D functions, including talent acquisition for specialized AI/ML roles, professional development, and technical training
• Ensure rigorous compliance with SOPs and SWIs, promoting consistent quality and regulatory adherence for AI‑enabled medical software
• Act as a senior escalation point between customers, Operations, and Engineering, integrating feedback into the software development lifecycle to refine AI model performance
• Provide transparent reporting on delivery status, risk mitigation, and the ROI of AI/ML initiatives
• Build and manage strategic relationships with technology partners and vendors to enhance internal AI capabilities and cloud‑native services

What We Look For

• Bachelor’s degree in an IT‑related, scientific, or technical field, or equivalent professional experience
• 15+ years of experience leading enterprise‑level R&D organizations or large‑scale strategic technology programs
• Proven experience managing the full product engineering lifecycle using Agile methodologies with a focus on MLOps and CI/CD for AI
• Extensive experience delivering solutions in cloud (AWS/Azure), IaaS, and PaaS environments, specifically leveraging cloud‑native AI/ML services (e.g., SageMaker, Azure AI)
• Strong background managing teams operating under formal Product and Development Lifecycles, including the validation of AI models in regulated environments
• Knowledge of evolving AI landscape and demonstrated experience implementing AI in regulatory environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success in people leadership, leading geographically diverse teams, organizational development, and managing data science and engineering teams in complex environments
• Deep knowledge of enterprise solution architecture, data privacy (GDPR/HIPAA), and information security standards as they relate to large language models (LLMs) and data processing
• Strong analytical, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills
• Experience in life sciences, clinical trials, or other regulated industries preferred
• Familiarity with clinical data transfer, storage standards, and regulated software risk management for algorithmic decision‑making

At Clario, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, our purpose is to transform lives by unlocking better evidence. It’s a cause that unites and inspires us. It’s why we come to work—and how we empower our people to make a positive impact every day.

Whether you're advancing clinical science, building innovative technology, or supporting our global teams, your work helps bring life‑changing therapies to patients faster.

Clario Privacy Policy

Clario is a leading provider of endpoint data solutions to the clinical trials industry, generating high-quality clinical evidence for life sciences companies. We offer comprehensive evidence generation solutions that combine medical imaging, eCOA, precision motion, cardiac solutions and respiratory endpoints. For more than 50 years, Clario has delivered deep scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world. Our endpoint data solutions have supported over 30,000 clinical trials in more than 100 countries. Our global team of science, technology, and operational experts have supported over 70% of all FDA drug approvals since 2015.