Pharmaceutical R&D Domain Expert

Weekday AI (YC W21); California City (CA); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Weekday AI is seeking a senior pharmaceutical R&D domain expert to join a leading AI research team in the Bay Area on a hybrid basis. The position supports a 6-month engagement at 40 hours per week and requires on-site work several days weekly.

You will review AI outputs for scientific accuracy, craft instruction specs, create reference solutions, and design benchmarks that measure depth and relevance of pharmaceutical knowledge tasks.

Qualifications

• PhD or PharmD in a relevant life sciences discipline.
• 4+ years pharma/biotech R&D experience.
• Experience within pharma, biotech, CRO, or translational research preferred.
• Ability to critique AI outputs and provide actionable feedback.
• Senior-level contributions to discovery or development programs.

Responsibilities

• Review AI-generated outputs for scientific accuracy and relevance.
• Develop instruction specifications and reference solutions for pharma problems.
• Design pharma-focused evaluation tasks and benchmarks.
• Provide precise written feedback to researchers and calibrate evaluation criteria.
• Collaborate with AI researchers and pharma specialists in a hybrid Bay Area setting.

Skills

Pharma R&D

AI evaluation

Scientific reasoning

Communication

Education

PhD or PharmD in pharmaceutical sciences

MD with pharmaceutical drug development experience

Job description

Compensation: $75 - $115 per hour

We are seeking a senior pharmaceutical R&D domain expert to work with a leading AI research team on improving how advanced AI models understand and reason about real-world pharmaceutical research and development.

This role is for one of our clients

We are seeking a senior pharmaceutical R&D domain expert to work with a leading AI research team on improving how advanced AI models understand and reason about real-world pharmaceutical research and development.

In this role, your expertise in drug discovery and development will be central to defining what high-quality pharmaceutical knowledge work looks like. You will evaluate AI-generated outputs, develop detailed instruction specifications, create reference-quality solutions, and design benchmarks that measure the accuracy, depth, and practical relevance of AI systems.

The ideal candidate is a practicing or experienced pharmaceutical R&D specialist with substantial industry experience and deep expertise in a specific area of the drug development lifecycle.

Location

Hybrid role based in the Bay Area, California. Candidates must currently live in the Bay Area and be able to work on-site with the research team multiple days per week, as required. Candidates outside the Bay Area must be willing to relocate at their own expense before the engagement begins. Relocation assistance is not provided.

Employment Type

Full-time W-2 position

Initial Engagement

6 months

Expected Commitment

40 hours per week

Key Responsibilities

Data Quality & Evaluation

• Review pharmaceutical knowledge tasks and AI-generated outputs for scientific accuracy, completeness, and practical relevance
• Identify unsupported efficacy or safety claims, gaps in reasoning, missing considerations, and conclusions that would not withstand scientific or regulatory scrutiny
• Assess whether AI responses reflect genuine pharmaceutical R&D expertise rather than surface-level or plausible-sounding reasoning

Instruction Specifications & Reference Solutions

• Develop detailed instruction specifications that accurately reflect real-world pharmaceutical research and development workflows
• Create high-quality reference solutions for drug discovery and development problems
• Design new tasks that capture the complexity, judgment, and decision-making involved in industry pharmaceutical R&D

Benchmark & Evaluation Development

• Develop challenging pharmaceutical evaluation tasks and domain-specific benchmark datasets
• Help establish evaluation standards for measuring AI performance across different stages of the pharmaceutical pipeline
• Collaborate with research teams to identify opportunities for improving domain-specific AI capabilities

Expert Calibration

• Work with researchers and specialists from adjacent disciplines to establish consistent evaluation standards
• Translate complex, experience-based pharmaceutical judgment into clear, objective, and teachable evaluation criteria
• Provide precise written feedback that helps improve both AI outputs and evaluation methodologies

Core Qualifications

Education

PhD or PharmD in a relevant pharmaceutical or life sciences discipline, such as:

• Medicinal or Organic Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Toxicology

MD candidates with substantial pharmaceutical drug development experience may also be considered

Professional Experience

• 4+ years of substantive pharmaceutical or biotechnology research and development experience
• Experience within a pharmaceutical company, biotechnology company, contract research organization, or translational research institute is strongly preferred
• Candidates with purely academic research backgrounds and limited exposure to commercial drug development may be less suitable

Domain Expertise

Demonstrated specialization in at least one major area of the pharmaceutical development pipeline, such as:

• Target identification and validation
• Medicinal chemistry and lead optimization
• Preclinical pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Translational science and biomarkers
• Clinical development
• Regulatory affairs
• Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC)

Seniority & Ownership

• Demonstrated progression into senior-level roles such as Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist, Director of Research, or VP-level R&D positions
• Experience owning or making significant contributions to a discovery project or pharmaceutical development program

Research & Industry Record

• Peer-reviewed publications, granted patents, or meaningful contributions to pharmaceutical programs that progressed into clinical development are strongly preferred

AI & Analytical Skills

• Practical experience using large language models or AI tools in a professional setting
• Strong ability to distinguish scientifically rigorous reasoning from responses that merely appear credible
• Excellent analytical judgment and attention to scientific detail

Communication

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to provide precise, structured, and actionable written feedback
• Comfortable translating complex scientific concepts into clear evaluation criteria

Availability & Location

• Able to commit approximately 40 hours per week for an initial six-month engagement
• Currently based in the Bay Area, California, with the ability to work on-site multiple days per week as required
• Candidates outside the Bay Area must be willing to relocate at their own expense before the engagement begins

Work Environment

This is a collaborative hybrid position involving close interaction with AI researchers, pharmaceutical specialists, and program teams. The role requires participation in standard team workflows, research discussions, evaluation reviews, and ongoing calibration sessions.

You will contribute directly to initiatives focused on improving the capabilities of advanced AI systems in pharmaceutical research and development.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring and employment process for qualified individuals who require them.