Principal Data Scientist, Predictive AI

Genentech; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 207,480 - 385,320; Full time

Job summary

Genentech's Data, Digital, and Analytics (DDA) team is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead enterprise AI/ML initiatives in Commercial, Marketing, and Medical Affairs domains. You will translate complex business challenges into rigorous analytical roadmaps and guide the development of scalable, production-grade solutions.

The role requires deep expertise in predictive modeling, recommender systems, and forecasting, plus hands-on leadership across data engineering, modeling, and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on AI experience with leadership in project execution.
• Experience applying recommender systems to enterprise data.
• Strong background in deep learning, forecasting, and causal inference.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide data science lifecycle for high-priority AI/ML projects.
• Drive end-to-end development, scaling, and deployment of AI solutions.
• Advise leadership and stakeholders to influence strategy.
• Apply ML, deep learning, and statistics to extract insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build scalable applications.
• Translate complex architectures into concise business narratives.

Skills

AI leadership

Recommender systems

Forecasting models

Python

Cloud AWS

Big data (Hadoop Spark)

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's or PhD in a quantitative field

Tools

LangChain

CrewAI

Tableau

Job description

Why Genentech

We\'re passionate about delivering on Our Promise to improve the lives of patients and create healthier communities for all. We foster a culture of inclusivity, integrity and creativity while boldly pursuing answers to the world\'s most complex health challenges and transforming society.

The Position

We\'re passionate about delivering on Our Promise to improve the lives of patients and create healthier communities for all. We foster a culture of inclusivity, integrity and creativity while boldly pursuing answers to the world\'s most complex health challenges and transforming society.

Genentech\'s Data, Digital, and Analytics (DDA) team is dedicated to solving complex healthcare challenges and improving patient outcomes. DDA empowers business partners across Commercial, Medical, and Government Affairs (CMG) to make impactful decisions by leveraging data, analytics, and AI/ML to enable fast, targeted actions in rapidly evolving business contexts.

DDA fosters a unified understanding of customers, actions, and outcomes by transforming the business insight supply chain from the traditional reactive service model to a modern proactive product model, which integrates analytics and insights seamlessly into CMG\'s evolving digital, data, and automation platforms, creating scalable solutions and eliminating silos. In DDA, you will work as a trusted, objective advisor and expert, recommending critical decisions and actions to be taken with credibility and a focus on driving measurable impact. You will be part of a diverse, inclusive team that reflects the world we serve, thriving in a welcoming culture built on collaboration and innovation.

The Opportunity

The Principal Data Scientist in Data, Analytics, and AI serves as a visionary technical leader and strategic thought partner, driving the innovation, development, and industrialization of next-generation enterprise AI/ML applications. This pivotal role requires deep expertise in building enterprise recommendation engines alongside advanced predictive modeling and forecasting solutions tailored specifically for the Commercial, Marketing, and Medical Affairs domains. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Principal Data Scientist translates ambiguous business challenges into rigorous analytical roadmaps, elevates team thinking, and provides the strategic technical insights necessary to shape organizational priorities. This position requires a rare blend of deep technical mastery—spanning applied statistics, deep learning, and forecasting—and the executive presence required to influence cross-functional strategy while maintaining compliance with Genentech’s standards.

• Technical Leadership & Architecture: Lead and guide the data science lifecycle for high-priority AI/ML projects, serving as the subject matter expert for advanced analytical methodologies across DDA.


• Product & Capability Ownership: Drive the end-to-end development, scaling, and deployment of AI solutions to optimize marketing efficiency, medical affairs strategy, and customer experience.


• Strategic Partnership: Act as a critical technical advisor to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; leverage deep technical expertise and proactive research to influence long-term commercial and clinical business strategies.


• Advanced Methodology Application: Apply ML, deep learning, and applied statistics to extract high-value insights from complex, disparate structured and unstructured data sources.


• Cross-Functional Synergy: Collaborate seamlessly with Data Science Product Owners, ML Engineers, and other teams to build production-grade, scalable applications. Openly share perspectives to elevate the team\'s technical maturity and optimally weigh technical vs. business trade-offs.


• Influence & Storytelling: Translate highly complex algorithmic architectures and predictive insights into concise, compelling business narratives that inspire trust and drive immediate operational action among non-technical stakeholders.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s Degree and 7+ years of hands-on experience in AI with a proven track record of technical leadership, innovation, and independent project execution.


• 3+ years of dedicated experience applying Recommender Systems (e.g., content-based/collaborative filtering) and predictive/forecasting models to enterprise-scale data to drive tangible business results.


• Deep proficiency in quantitative fields including Deep Learning (applied to recommendation engines or advanced forecasting), Causal Inference, and advanced statistical modeling.


• Strong experience working with large-scale, complex data environments utilizing big data platforms (Hadoop, Spark) and cloud-computing ecosystems (AWS).


• Advanced proficiency in Python and deep familiarity with open-source machine learning and agentic libraries/frameworks (e.g., LangChain, CrewAI, TensorFlow, PyTorch) to solve enterprise-level problems.

Preferred

• Master\'s or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics or a related quantitative field


• Deep knowledge of highly regulated environments (healthcare, pharma, biotech) with specific experience utilizing Commercial, Medical Affairs, claims, marketing, and longitudinal patient data.


• A proven ability to successfully pivot and apply transferable artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques across diverse business domains and ambiguous use cases.


• Experience using industry-standard tools like Tableau, Qlik, or Data Studio to translate complex data into accessible, democratized insights.


• Strong communication, leadership, and time management skills, backed by a track record of open-source contributions, peer-reviewed publications, or patents.

This position is based in South San Francisco, CA at our Genentech Campus and offers a hybrid schedule working 3 days per week on campus

Relocation benefits are not available for this posting.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $207,480 and $385,320. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company\'s policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.