Senior Director, Data and AI Engineer

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); Remote; USD 231,000 - 345,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Remote work option

Job summary

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. is seeking a Senior Director of Data and AI Engineering to define the data and AI strategy across the R&D value chain.

You will lead a team of data engineers, AI/ML specialists, and support staff, driving scalable, compliant data foundations and Gen AI capabilities in a regulated pharmaceutical setting. The role emphasizes strategic vision, governance, and collaboration with IT, data platforms, and scientific leaders to translate complex R&D challenges into

Qualifications

• 12+ years of leadership experience in data engineering, AI/ML, and Gen AI.
• Strong team leadership and cross-functional collaboration in regulated environments.
• Experience in pharmaceutical/biotech, particularly R&D contexts.
• Proven track record deploying Gen AI in production environments.
• Advanced degree preferred (Master/PhD).

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for data engineering, AI, and Gen AI within R&D.
• Lead design, development, and deployment of scalable data pipelines and AI applications for R&D needs.
• Oversee AI/Gen AI use cases from ideation to production deployment and lifecycle management.
• Scale MLOps practices across in-house applications for end-to-end model lifecycles.
• Collaborate with Data and AI Platform teams and other stakeholders to coordinate roadmaps and governance.

Skills

Data engineering

AI/ML leadership

Gen AI

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Tools

Gen AI platforms

Job description

Remote

Full time

R11285

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Data and AI Engineering will be a visionary and strategic leader responsible for defining and executing the data and AI engineering strategy across the entire R&D value chain with a deep knowledge of AI and R&D Data. This role will empower scientific, and business functions—including drug development, clinical trials, real-world data evidence—by delivering robust, scalable, and compliant data and AI foundations and implementing advanced data, AI and Generative AI (Gen AI) solutions.

As a technical leader, the Senior Director will manage a high-performing team of data engineers, AI/MLOps specialists, and application support team to foster a culture of innovation, and ensure the adoption of best-in-class engineering practices within a regulated pharmaceutical environment. This leader will bridge the gap between scientific ambition and technical execution, translating complex R&D challenges into impactful data and AI engineering solutions. The role will oversee a team of data and AI engineers, manage resources, and collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver high-quality data and analytic products.

The Data and AI Engineering team will focus on establishing and enhancing Otsuka’s Data and AI solutions foundations on top of the AI platform provided by Data and AI platform team in IT. This role will oversee team is a centralized capability and comprises of programmers, full-stack AI and data engineers who work closely with other Data and Analytics, AI Scientists, Data Scientists, various roles in IT, and other business functions.

Job Description

Strategy and Vision

• Define and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for data engineering, AI, and Gen AI capabilities within R&D, aligning with overall business objectives and scientific priorities.
• Serve as a key thought leader and trusted advisor to senior R&D leadership on opportunities and risks related to AI and data technologies and AI. Represent data and AI engineering in key AI and Data solutions initiatives in Otsuka as needed.
• Evaluate and adopt emerging data and AI technologies, balancing new opportunities with the need for scalability, reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Execution and Technical Leadership

• Deliver leading edge engineering approaches, effective enterprise data strategy (specifically clinical, operational, and real-world data), robust and responsible AI/ML model development, fit-for-purpose clinical development data stewardship strategies to enable key data insights to inform decision making and assist in business transformation initiatives.
• Lead and deliver the design, development, and deployment of extensible and scalable data engineering for complex R&D Data, pipelines, and architecture for AI applications to support all R&D data AI needs, including structured, unstructured (text, imaging, and data from sensors, medical devices, and digital apps), and real-time data.
• Oversee the implementation of AI and Gen AI use cases from ideation to production deployment, and application life cycle management. Hands on experience in architecting engineering foundation for a diverse set of AI solutions.
• Lead and deliver data processing, representations, and AI engineering in R&D for applications ranging across: clinical trial optimization, patient recruitment, content authoring automation, asset management, pharmacovigilance, quality, regulatory, and enterprise functions, Real-World Data, sensor and medical device data, omics data, .
• Champion engineering best practices, review AI solution architectures, and data & AI observability to ensure technical consistency, scalability, and effective governance of AI engineering across the portfolio of oversight.
• Architect and scale MLOps practices for in house applications to support the entire model lifecycle—from experimentation and deployment to monitoring and retraining—while ensuring automation and reproducibility.
• Drive awareness of AI/ML applications and the importance of strong Data and AI engineering foundation across the organization
• Provide technical and engineering support for Data and Information Governance, quality, and FAIR data

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing and collaborative team of data engineers, AI/ML engineers, life cycle support.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and accountability within and across team.
• Effectively manage budget, resource allocation, and project timelines for the data and AI engineering portfolio.

Oversight and Governance

• Ensure that all data and AI initiatives and applications adhere to internal governance standards, data privacy regulations (e.g., GxP, HIPAA), and responsible AI principles.
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance teams to embed auditability and traceability into AI and Gen AI workflows.
• Serve as AI and Data engineering expert for internal portfolio as well as organization wide initiatives, reviews, and AI committees.
• Establish and manage robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response processes for all AI capabilities.
• Effectively manage and provide oversight on vendors and vendor resources providing support to data and AI engineering portfolio
• Lead or participate in meetings related to Data or AI, its impact, enablement, governance, determining or enabling roadmaps and strategy as needed.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Data and AI Platform team and leverage platform level capabilities, solutions provided by IT as well as share data and AI solution needs as well as guidance with respective providers (Data and AI platform, IT infrastructure, etc.)
• Build strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders across R&D, Scientific and Operations AI Data Science teams, other DnA pillars, IT, and external partners.
• Partner with R&D teams to translate complex scientific challenges into clear, executable data and AI projects.
• Communicate strategy, progress, and outcomes to diverse stakeholders, including technical teams and executive leadership.
• Lead as subject matter expert, while communicating, and collaborating effectively to ensure portfolio success.

Qualifications/ Required

Knowledge/ Experience and Skills:

• Expertise in real-world data assets and using them to generate scientific evidence and guide operational effectiveness and efficiencies.
• Deep expertise across data engineering, representation, Gen AI, AI and machine learning techniques and experience in architecting and delivering AI/ML use cases.
• Strong team leadership, internal and cross-functional collaboration, project management skills with a focus on delivering impactful initiatives.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in data engineering, AI/ML, and Gen AI with at least 5 years in senior technical leadership or management roles.
• Strong and demonstrated experience in architecting, building and maintaining large-scale data and AI solutions in a scientific, regulated, or research-heavy environment.
• Strong experience working within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry, particularly within R&D, is highly desirable along with a deep understanding of AI and Machine Learning and its applications in Pharma.
• Proven track record of implementing and deploying Gen AI and large language model (LLM) applications in production environments.
• Creative problem solving using responsible use of technology.

Educational Qualifications

• Masters in Mathematical, Engineering, or Scientific disciplines such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, Statistics, or a related field with focus on advanced and modern Data Science, including the use of AI and machine learning. PhD is strongly preferred.

Competencies

Accountability for Results -

Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving -

Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.

Patient & Customer Centricity -

Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.

Impactful Communication -

Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.

Respectful Collaboration -

Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.

Empowered Development -

Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.

Minimum $230,720.00 - Maximum $345,000.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.

Application Deadline

This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.

Company benefits:

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits.

Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka .

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request ([e-mail]) .

Otsuka does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any Otsuka employee directly or through Otsuka’s application portal without a valid written search agreement in place for the position will be considered Otsuka’s sole property. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired by Otsuka as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” In the U.S., Otsuka is comprised of two companies, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., that share a deep commitment to the development and commercialization of innovative products in the spaces of neuroscience, nephrology, and digital medicine.

Driven by our purpose to defy limitation, so that others can too, we have an unwavering belief in doing more and transcending expectations. In going above and beyond—under any circumstances—for patients, families, providers, and for each other. It’s this deep-rooted dedication that drives us to uncover answers to complex, underserved medical needs, so that patients can push past the limitations of their disease and achieve more than they thought was possible each and every day.

OPDC and OAPI are indirect subsidiaries of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 34,400 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 14.2 billion in 2023.

We invite you to explore our open positions for an opportunity to join our 2,200 colleagues in the U.S. whose passion for our mission and pride in our company has earned us certification as a Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute.