Principal Translational Modeling Scientist for Decision

Flagship Pioneering; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering's Pioneering Intelligence team in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal Scientist to lead translational modeling and decision science. You will build mechanistic models to reduce uncertainty in drug development decisions and provide quantitative insights across programs.

You will shape product requirements for AI-enabled translational tools, define context of use, and communicate results to stakeholders with defensible assumptions and transparent uncertainty.

Qualifications

• PhD in a life sciences discipline with quantitative experience, or a quantitative life sciences PhD with strong physiology, molecular biology, and immunology knowledge.
• Demonstrated expertise building mechanistic models for drug development decisions across multiple therapeutic areas.
• Ability to translate scientific complexity into actionable recommendations for non-technical decision-makers with strong communication and composure.
• Proficiency in Python scientific computing (scipy, numpy, pandas) and numerical ODE integration.
• Experience operating across multiple concurrent programs and decision types.
• Experience applying frontier AI and LLM tools to drug development decisions.
• Translational breadth across drug modalities (small molecule, biologic, gene therapy, etc.).
• Familiarity with regulatory credibility frameworks (ICH M15, FDA MIDD) and their internal decision-making applications.
• Experience in venture-backed or platform-company environments where analysis supports investment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Translational Prediction & Decision Support: produce quantitative opinions across diligence, milestone, and program decisions, decomposing claims into testable components.
• Deliver translational predictions with confidence and boundary conditions for milestone decisions.
• Quantify probability of pharmacological success by integrating uncertainty across compound, mechanism, and disease dimensions.
• Translate scientific complexity into recommendations stakeholders can carry and defend.
• Carry insight between programs and flag translational risks relevant to others.
• Prioritize where predictive science creates the most decision value at each milestone.
• Define context-of-use and credibility standards for each engagement.
• Match analytical rigor to decision consequence using regulatory concepts.

Skills

PhD in life sciences (quantitative)

Mechanistic modeling

Scientific communication

Python scientific computing

Numerical ODE integration

Program management across programs

Education

PhD in life sciences or quantitative life sciences

Tools

Python (scipy, numpy, pandas)

Job description

Flagship Pioneering's Pioneering Intelligence team in Cambridge, MA seeks a Principal Scientist to lead translational modeling and decision science. You will build mechanistic models to reduce uncertainty in drug development decisions and provide quantitative insights across programs.

You will shape product requirements for AI-enabled translational tools, define context of use, and communicate results to stakeholders with defensible assumptions and transparent uncertainty.