Senior Director, AI/ML for Generative Chemistry

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 279,000 - 413,000; Full time

Job summary

Flagship Pioneering seeks a Senior Director/VP of ML, Generative Chemistry to lead AI/ML and cheminformatics projects for next-gen biomolecular design. You will define pragmatic AI strategies, oversee method development, and ensure rigorous model benchmarking and scaling, guiding a multidisciplinary computational team.

You will drive independent thinking, mentor hires, and shape hiring plans in a fast-paced startup environment at Flagship’s Cambridge base.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Computer Science, AI/ML, Physics, Biophysics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience scientific/engineering/computational in Pharma or Biotech settings; industry AI/ML experience preferred
• Experience driving results directly or indirectly through teams of engineers/scientists in dynamic, fast paced, entrepreneurial, technical environments.
• Clear evidence of sustained independent thought and creativity driving high impact across drug development and chemistry AI/ML projects.
• Successful track record of leadership and contribution to decision making on progression of AI/ML models within projects or programs.
• Depth across core tools: Python; ML frameworks (PyTorch/JAX/TensorFlow); version control; databases; deep learning architectures; informatics software.
• Proven ability to lead technical initiatives, communicate progress, and drive innovation in generative biomolecular design

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership: Lead development, implementation, control, and reporting of several AI/ML or computational projects within assigned ventures in line with broader strategic plans of PI and Flagship, budgets, and timelines.
• Technical Ownership: Oversee method development, pipeline development, and LLM-based agent/workflow design; drive benchmarking, scaling, and production-grade systems.
• Best Practices: Promote operational excellence in AI projects by educating cross-functional collaborators.
• Team Leadership: Manage and coordinate internal scientists and engineers and cross functional project teams; mentor early hires; support recruiting and interview.
• Planning & Resourcing: Contribute to project planning, including budgets, resources, and timelines; surface risks and tradeoffs early with clear options.
• Landscape & Strategy: Independently scout emerging literature and the AI/ML landscape; synthesize concepts to propose new development strategies and opportunities.

Skills

AI/ML leadership

Team leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

MSc/PhD in CS/AI/Physics/Biophysics

Tools

Python

PyTorch

JAX

TensorFlow

RDKit

Rosetta

Biopython

PyMol

OpenMM

Dagster

Prefect

Docker

AWS/SageMaker

Job description

Flagship Pioneering seeks a Senior Director/VP of ML, Generative Chemistry to lead AI/ML and cheminformatics projects for next-gen biomolecular design. You will define pragmatic AI strategies, oversee method development, and ensure rigorous model benchmarking and scaling, guiding a multidisciplinary computational team.

You will drive independent thinking, mentor hires, and shape hiring plans in a fast-paced startup environment at Flagship’s Cambridge base.