Senior Director, Data and AI Engineer

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.); Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 230,720 - 345,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Generous 401(k) match

Flexible time off

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in New Jersey is seeking a Senior Director of Data and AI Engineering to define and execute the data strategy across R&D. This visionary leader will deliver AI solutions that enhance drug development and clinical trials. Candidates should have extensive experience in data engineering, strong leadership skills, and a Master's or PhD in a relevant field. Benefits include comprehensive medical coverage and generous 401(k) match.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in data engineering and AI/ML.
• Experience in a regulated or research-heavy environment.
• Proven track record in deploying AI applications.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive data engineering and AI strategy.
• Lead design, development, and deployment of data solutions.
• Ensure compliance with governance standards and regulations.

Skills

Expertise in real-world data assets

Deep expertise in data engineering

Strong team leadership

Project management skills

Education

Masters in Mathematics, Engineering or related field

PhD (preferred)

Tools

AI and machine learning techniques

MLOps practices

Job description

Job Summary

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.

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.
• 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 (clinical, operational, and real‑world data), robust and responsible AI/ML model development, and fit‑for‑purpose clinical development data stewardship strategies to enable key data insights.
• Lead and deliver the design, development, and deployment of extensible and scalable data engineering for complex R&D data, including structured, unstructured (text, imaging, sensor data, medical devices, digital apps) and real‑time data.
• Oversee the implementation of AI and Gen AI use cases from ideation to production deployment, managing the application life‑cycle.
• Lead and deliver data processing, representations, and AI engineering for applications such as clinical trial optimization, patient recruitment, content authoring automation, asset management, pharmacovigilance, quality, regulatory, and enterprise functions, real‑world data, sensor and medical device data, and omics data.
• Champion engineering best practices, review AI solution architectures, and ensure data & AI observability for technical consistency and governance.
• 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 a 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, collaborative team of data engineers, AI/ML engineers, and life‑cycle support.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and accountability within and across the 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 (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 an AI and Data engineering expert for internal portfolio and 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 supporting the data and AI engineering portfolio.
• Lead or participate in meetings related to Data or AI, its impact, enablement, governance, and roadmap strategy.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Data and AI Platform team, leveraging platform capabilities and solutions provided by IT.
• 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 collaborating effectively to ensure portfolio success.

Qualifications / Required

Knowledge/Experience and Skills:

• Expertise in real‑world data assets to generate scientific evidence and guide operational effectiveness.
• Deep expertise across data engineering, representation, Gen AI, AI, and machine learning techniques with experience in architecting and delivering AI/ML use cases.
• Strong team leadership, internal and cross‑functional collaboration, and project management skills focused on 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.
• Experience architecting, building, and maintaining large‑scale data and AI solutions in a regulated or research‑heavy environment.
• Experience working within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industry, particularly within R&D, is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of implementing and deploying Gen AI and large language model (LLM) applications in production environments.
• Creative problem‑solving using responsible technology.

Educational Qualifications

• Masters in Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field with a focus on advanced data science, including 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 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 Salary: $230,720.00 – $345,000.00, plus incentive opportunity; typical pay range for individuals hired in the role in the United States.

Application Deadline: This posting will be visible for a minimum of 5 business days.

Company Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and additional benefits.

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

Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, 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.