Senior Manager, AI Engineering

Acadia Pharmaceuticals; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 188,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Employer-paid life, disability, travel

401(k) Plan with 1:1 company match up 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals seeks a Senior Manager, AI Engineering to lead enterprise AI strategy, develop scalable ML/LLM pipelines, and ensure responsible AI governance across R&D, Commercial, and Corporate functions. The role emphasizes collaboration, model lifecycle management, and regulatory alignment.

You will design and deploy AI/ML solutions, evaluate GenAI tech, and maintain governance documentation while advancing Acadia's AI capabilities to accelerate decision-making and operational

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or related quantitative discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience; OR PhD with 2+ years of industry experience or equivalent advanced research experience in ML/AI/data science
• Experience developing, deploying, and supporting ML/AI solutions in production or research environments
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn
• Experience with Generative AI technologies, LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, and agent frameworks
• Experience with ML Ops or LLM Ops practices, including version control, model evaluation, monitoring, and deployment workflows

Responsibilities

• Contribute to enterprise AI strategy and roadmap; align AI initiatives with business priorities
• Partner with R&D, Commercial, and Corporate teams to develop AI/ML solutions
• Deliver analytics and data science use cases for actionable insights
• Support AI governance activities including model risk, responsible AI practices, and lifecycle management
• Assess feasibility, value, and risks of AI/Data Science initiatives for prioritization
• Design, develop, validate, deploy, and maintain ML models and scalable ML/LLM pipelines
• Evaluate and optimize GenAI technologies and enterprise AI architecture
• Maintain model, prompt, and dataset documentation with governance compliance
• Develop reusable data science frameworks and technical standards
• Collaborate with IT, Data Insights, and InfoSec on AI platforms and vendor evaluations
• Apply governance, bias testing, explainability, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Support compliance with GxP and AI regulations (NIST RMF, EU AI Act)
• Contribute to AI enablement via knowledge sharing and cross-functional collaboration
• Monitor emerging AI developments to inform platform evolution
• Provide architectural recommendations and build-vs-buy analyses
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Python

SQL

PyTorch

TensorFlow

scikit-learn

GenAI

LLMs

RAG

Vector databases

Agent frameworks

ML Ops

Responsible AI

Education

Master's degree in Data Science/related

PhD in related quantitative discipline

Tools

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Job description

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference.

Location and Hybrid Model Please note that this position can be based in San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, AI Engineering plays a key role in advancing Acadia's enterprise AI capabilities through the development, deployment, and governance of scalable AI and machine learning solutions. As part of the Artificial Intelligence team, this individual will partner with stakeholders across R&D, Commercial, and Corporate functions to translate data into actionable insights and business value. This role will help drive AI strategy execution, support responsible AI practices, and enable the adoption of innovative technologies that accelerate decision-making and operational excellence across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the execution of the enterprise AI strategy and roadmap by aligning AI and machine learning initiatives with business priorities and identifying high-value use cases across the organization
• Partner with stakeholders across R&D, Commercial, and Corporate Functions to identify and develop AI and machine learning solutions that drive business value
• Deliver analytics and data science use cases that generate actionable insights and support data-driven decision-making
• Support cross-functional AI governance activities by providing technical expertise on model risk, responsible AI practices, and lifecycle management
• Assess the technical feasibility, business value, and implementation risks of proposed AI and data science initiatives to support prioritization and investment decisions
• Design, develop, validate, deploy, and support machine learning models, statistical analyses, and scalable ML/LLM pipelines using established ML Ops and LLM Ops practices
• Evaluate, implement, and optimize GenAI technologies, including large language models, vector databases, model endpoints, agent frameworks, and guardrail solutions aligned with enterprise architecture standards
• Maintain model, prompt, and dataset documentation, ensuring lineage, auditability, governance compliance, approvals, and adherence to enterprise AI system-of-record standards
• Develop reusable data science frameworks, reference implementations, and technical standards that accelerate AI adoption, scalability, and operational efficiency across the enterprise
• Partner with Information Technology, Data Insights & Analytics, and Information Security teams to support AI platforms, infrastructure capabilities, technology selection, vendor assessments, and RFI/RFP evaluations
• Apply AI governance and responsible AI standards, including model lifecycle management, bias and robustness testing, explainability, human oversight, incident response, and regulatory compliance requirements
• Support compliance with applicable GxP requirements and evolving AI regulations, including alignment with frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and EU AI Act readiness standards
• Contribute to AI enablement initiatives through knowledge sharing, technical documentation, practitioner education, portfolio reviews, and cross-functional collaboration that promotes responsible AI adoption
• Monitor emerging AI, machine learning, and regulatory developments to inform solution design, platform evolution, and enterprise AI capabilities
• Provide technical recommendations on AI solution architecture, platform strategy, and build-versus-buy decisions
• Other duties as assigned

Education/Experience/Skills

• Master's degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience; OR PhD in a related quantitative discipline with 2+ years of industry experience or equivalent advanced research experience in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science
• Experience developing, deploying, and supporting machine learning and AI solutions in production or research environments
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and AI/ML frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or scikit-learn
• Experience working with Generative AI technologies, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector databases, and agent frameworks
• Experience with ML Ops or LLM Ops practices, including version control, model evaluation, monitoring, and deployment workflows
• Knowledge of responsible AI principles, model explainability, evaluation methodologies, and AI governance concepts
• Experience working within regulated or compliance-focused environments preferred
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Physical Requirements

This role involves regular standing, walking, sitting, and the use of hands for handling or operating equipment. The employee may also need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. This position requires the ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required by travel schedules or business needs.
In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is also eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards based on factors such as individual and organizational performance. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance, and location.

Salary Range
$150,300—$187,900 USD

What we offer US-based Employees:

• Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
• 401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match 1:1 up to 5%
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2-year purchase price lock-in
• 15+ vacation days
• 13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
• 10 days of paid sick time
• Paid parental leave benefit
• Tuition assistance

EEO Statement (US-based Employees)

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in the exact way they are described in job postings. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company, and we are looking for the BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background or may meet the qualifications in a different way. We strongly encourage you to apply, especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn’t exactly what we describe here.
It is the policy of Acadia to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to considerations of race, including related to hairstyle, color, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, country of origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, legally-protected medical condition or information, marital status, domestic partner status, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran or military status (including reserve status, National Guard status, and military service or obligation), status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, or any basis protected under federal, state or local law.
As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is committed to a diverse workforce. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Furthermore, you may request additional support if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Acadia’s career website due to your disability, along with any accommodations throughout the interview process. To request or inquire about your reasonable accommodation, please complete our Reasonable Accommodation Request Form or contact us at [e-mail] or 858-261-2923.
Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodations given if hired. A new request will need to be submitted for any ADA accommodations after starting employment.

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Notice to Search Firms/Third-Party Recruitment Agencies (Recruiters)

The Talent Acquisition team manages the recruitment and employment process for Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Acadia”). Acadia does not accept resumes from recruiters or search firms without an executed search agreement in place. Resumes sent to Acadia employees in the absence of an executed search agreement will not obligate Acadia in any way with respect to the future employment of those individuals or potential remuneration to any recruiter or search firm. Candidates should never be submitted directly to our hiring managers or employees.