Senior Director, Applied AI Engineering

Gilead Sciences; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 243,000 - 315,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company is seeking a Senior Director of Applied AI Engineering to lead innovative AI applications in drug development. The role involves cross-functional collaboration, technical strategy, and team leadership, aiming to transform clinical operations through advanced AI solutions.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus

Stock-based long-term incentives

Company-sponsored medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Qualifications

• 14+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• Expertise in deep learning and large language models.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of advanced AI applications in drug development.
• Build and lead a team of applied AI engineers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Problem Solving

Education

MS/PhD in Computer Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

Senior Director, Applied AI Engineering , Foster City, CA

Overview

The Senior Director of Applied AI Engineering has a critical leadership role within Team ARC (AI Research Center), Gilead’s Center of Excellence for AI and advanced analytics. ARC operates within the Clinical Data Science (CDS) organization, which is part of the broader Drug Development organization led by the Chief Medical Officer. The Senior Director of Applied AI Engineering will lead the development and deployment of advanced AI applications within Gilead’s drug development portfolio. This leader will focus on translating AI research—particularly in generative AI, LLMs, and autonomous agents—into scalable, production-ready tools. They will drive collaboration across clinical operations, regulatory, medical writing, and RWE, working closely with peers in AI Acceleration (AIx), Delivery & Product Management Experiences (DPMx), IT, and Development Systems (DevSys).

Key Responsibilities

Innovate & Deliver:

• Design, deploy, and maintain machine learning and generative AI systems that address real-world challenges in drug development (e.g., trial optimization, regulatory authoring, medical review automation).

• Translate cutting-edge research into practical tools that impact the business.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with AIx and DPMx to define, build, and integrate AI-powered solutions into key processes.

• Engage with IT and DevSys to ensure secure, scalable infrastructure and seamless handoffs from prototyping to production.

Technical Strategy & Execution:

• Architect and optimize AI/ML pipelines across model training, inference, and monitoring.

• Define engineering best practices for LLMOps and applied AI across therapeutic areas.

Team Leadership & Culture:

• Build and lead a team of applied AI engineers.

• Foster a culture of ownership, speed, and continuous learning.

• Mentor AI engineers, and champion strong coding, testing, and documentation standards.

Impact & Monitoring:

• Track usage, performance, and business impact of deployed AI systems.

• Partner with domain experts to calibrate model outputs and continuously improve system behavior.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field

• 14+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with at least 5 years in leadership roles

• Proven track record of deploying AI systems at scale in high-stakes domains (e.g., life sciences, healthcare, finance)

• Expertise in deep learning and large language models (e.g., transformers, RAG, distillation)

• Proficiency in frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow

• Strong engineering foundation (data structures, architecture, testing, CI/CD)

• Excellent communicator with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive alignment across science, engineering, and operations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in or alongside clinical, regulatory, or medical affairs functions

• Familiarity with GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, and other relevant compliance frameworks

• Experience with AI agents, model evaluation for healthcare, and multimodal data integration

What You’ll Gain

• The opportunity to define the engineering blueprint for applied AI in drug development

• Direct impact on how generative AI and automation can transform how trials are designed, conducted, and reviewed

• A collaborative environment where research and application meet to deliver innovation at scale

The salary range for this position is: $243,100.00 - $314,600.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

For jobs in the United States:

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.