Principal Programmer

GSK; Upper Providence (Delaware County); Hybrid; USD 126,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Healthcare

Pension plan

Shares and savings programme

Hybrid work model

Job summary

GSK is seeking a Principal Programmer to join the Clinical Programming team in a hybrid role. You will lead study delivery, work with cross-functional teams, and mentor others while ensuring quality outputs that meet regulatory standards.

The role emphasizes collaboration across clinical, statistical, and operations functions, with an agile, squad-based environment and opportunities for career growth within a global framework.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of programming experience in regulated pharma or biotech environments.
• Proficient in SAS, R or Python for clinical analyses and data processing.
• Experience applying CDISC standards in clinical study outputs.
• Experience with oncology study requirements (RECIST) is a plus.
• Mentor junior programmers and collaborate across cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Independently lead programming activities for one or more studies.
• Develop, validate, and maintain complex analysis packages.
• Ensure compliance with Good Programming Practices and CDISC standards.
• Mentor junior programmers and support regulatory interactions (EMA/FDA).
• Identify gaps, propose improvements, and manage governance risks.

Skills

SAS

R

Python

CDISC standards

Oncology

Clinical Programming

Job description

Business Introduction

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people's lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients' needs and have the highest probability of success. We're uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Find out more:

Our approach to R&D

Job Purpose

We are seeking a Principal Programmer to join our Clinical Programming team, contributing to pipeline delivery across complex and pivotal studies. This role operates within an agile, squad-based environment, where you will lead study delivery, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and act as a technical mentor to ensure high-quality and timely outputs. Working closely with stakeholders across clinical, statistical, and operational functions, you will play a key role in bridging scientific requirements with technical solutions, supporting the successful execution of clinical development programmes within a global setting.

• We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.

We embrace modern work practices; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in-office work.

Key responsibilities include:

• Independently lead programming activities for one or more studies, ensuring development, maintenance, and validation of complex analysis packages
• Foster quality assurance by ensuring programming activities adhere to standards such as Good Programming Practices and CDISC standards.
• Mentor junior programmers by providing guidance and support in technical programming tasks and industry best practices
• Lead programming support for regulatory interactions (e.g., EMA, FDA)
• Identify gaps and inefficiencies and recommend and implement innovative solutions aligned with standards and best practices
• Establish and uphold governance frameworks, identify risks early and devise mitigation plans, ensuring timely escalation

Why you?

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of programming experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or other regulated industry.
• Experience programming in one or more languages such as SAS, R, Python, or a comparable programming language.
• Experience supporting clinical trials, clinical development programs, or analysis of clinical research data.
• Experience developing, validating, and maintaining custom programs, analyses, tables, figures, or listings.
• Experience applying programming standards, quality control procedures, and regulatory requirements within a regulated environment.
• Expertise in Oncology therapeutic area specific requirements like RECIST1.1.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver programming or data analysis solutions.
• Experience guiding others in the use of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) tools or applying these tools to improve efficiency
• Experience contributing to internal technical discussions, forums, or external technical organizations
• Experience contributing to department strategies and key technical initiatives through working groups or sub-teams
• Demonstrated networking and collaboration across departments, divisions, and external partners
• Experience facilitating integration across matrix teams and contributing to planning and execution of programming activities
• Experience guiding teams and individuals, fostering continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation
• Expertise in Oncology therapeutic area specific requirements like RECIST1.1.
• Strong expertise in CDISC standards and its application
• Demonstrated proficiency in R.

#LI-GSK #AGTech

Skills

• Agile Leadership
• Agile Methodology
• Clinical Development
• Data Engineering
• Data Science
• Influencing Without Authority
• Learning Agility
• Problem Solving
• Statistical Programming

If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $126,225 to $210,375. The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate's skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and el