Research Senior Scientist, Cheminformatics AI/ML

USA - 3316 Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda invites a cheminformatics scientist to join its Cambridge team, accelerating drug design through AI, ML, and computational chemistry. You will collaborate with global teams in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and AI/ML, defining a roadmap for tools empowering medicinal chemists.

The role requires a PhD and 2+ years in pharma/biotech, with experience in MLOps, RDKit, and scalable workflows. Based in Cambridge, MA, it offers strong compensation and benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Computer Science or related disciplines.
• 2+ years of pharma/biotech experience.
• Hands-on agentic AI systems in drug discovery.
• Experience with MLOps and model lifecycle management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply agentic AI solutions for drug discovery.
• Build predictive models for molecule design and optimization.
• Lead and orchestrate multi-step computational workflows.
• Enable scalable search and analytics across large chemical databases.

Skills

Python

R

C/C++

RDKit

MLOps

Education

PhD in Computational Chemistry

Tools

RDKit

Job description

Job Description Objective / Purpose

We are seeking a skilled cheminformatic scientist to join Takeda’s cheminformatics team. This role will be key to fostering a "prediction-first" culture, integrating cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and machine learning to accelerate drug design. The candidate will collaborate closely with global teams in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and AI/ML, defining a roadmap for computational tools that empower medicinal chemists to drive innovation.

Accountabilities

Develop and apply agentic AI solutions for drug discovery, including autonomous or human-in-the-loop workflows that integrate scientific reasoning, molecular design, data analysis, and computational tools. Identify opportunities throughout the DMTA cycle where predictive tools can drive acceleration. Build predictive models for molecule design and optimization. Extract MedChem design knowledge from large-scale chemical and biological datasets. Establish and maintain MLOps capabilities for predictive models, including reproducible training and deployment pipelines, model lifecycle orchestration, performance monitoring, versioning, and scheduled retraining. Build, maintain, and enable efficient search and analytics across ultra-large chemical databases, including scalable data ingestion, standardization, indexing, similarity and substructure search, and distributed computing workflows. Stay updated with emerging trends in computational chemistry and machine learning as applied to drug discovery. Implement and execute innovative computational methodologies and tools such as AI-based drug discovery, generative chemistry, synthesizable chemical space exploration, DNA Encoded Library (DEL) data analysis and DEL/ML application. Serve as a trusted thought partner, helping to drive ideation and execution of innovative chemistry strategies that meet Takeda’s therapeutic goals.

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral)

PhD in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Computer Science or related disciplines, with 2+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech setting. Demonstrated experience developing and applying agentic AI systems in drug discovery, including integrating and orchestrating chemical and biological databases, foundation models, scientific software tools, and multi-step computational workflows. Hands-on experience with MLOps and model lifecycle management, including workflow orchestration, CI/CD, model registries, monitoring, version control, and deployment in cloud or high-performance computing environments. Experience building, maintaining, and searching ultra-large chemical databases using scalable data engineering, distributed computing, and high-performance search technologies; familiarity with cloud storage, vector search, and chemical indexing is highly desirable. Solid programming and scripting capabilities (e.g., Python, R, C/C++) with a proven ability to design and automate scalable computational workflows. Strong expertise in cheminformatics toolkits such as RDKit. Comprehensive knowledge of the DMTA cycle with demonstrated success in deploying predictive tools across the design process. Experience leading strategic initiatives to accelerate DMTA cycle.

This role is based in Cambridge, MA.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location: Boston, MA U.S.

Base Salary Range: $137,000.00 - $215,270.00

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

For information about our benefits, please click here.

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations: Boston, MA

Worker Type: Employee

Worker Sub-Type: Regular Time Type, Full time

Job Exempt: Yes

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Takeda is an industry-leading, global pharmaceutical company with an unwavering dedication to putting patients at the center of everything we do. We live our values of Takeda-ism - Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance - and are united by our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Here, everyone matters and you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission. At Takeda, you will make an impact on people’s lives – including your own.

Takeda is an equal opportunity employer.

For applicants of U.S and Puerto Rico positions: Click here to learn about our commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

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