Senior Manager, Scientific AI Engineer

Pfizer; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Pfizer Matching

Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution

Paid vacation and holidays

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Job summary

Pfizer Oncology seeks a Scientific AI Engineer to design and build end-to-end AI solutions that impact Oncology R&D decision-making. You will partner with scientists, clinicians, and product leaders to prototype, iterate, and deliver AI-enabled insights with speed and rigor.

You will own projects end-to-end, apply ML to multimodal datasets, and ensure solutions are scientifically grounded and user-facing. This is a hands-on role in a fast-paced AI-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 6+ years experience or Master’s with 5+ years or PhD with 1+ year in relevant field.
• Experience building applied AI/ML in life sciences, healthcare, or analytics.
• Strong coding in Python and data pipeline/ML framework work.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and prototype AI/ML solutions for oncology discovery and development.
• Apply advanced ML methods to multimodal data (molecular, clinical, real-world, literature).
• Own end-to-end solutions from framing to user-facing outputs.
• Collaborate with domain experts to ensure scientific grounding and decision relevance.
• Iterate prototypes rapidly based on user feedback and evolving needs.
• Contribute to solution design discussions led by Oncology AI Product & Engineering Lead.
• Document methods, assumptions, and limitations for transparency and responsible AI.

Skills

Python

Data pipelines

ML frameworks

Life sciences AI

Independence

Oncology knowledge

Education

PhD in computational biology, data science, ML, or engineering

Job description

Pfizer Oncology is building an AI-first R&D engine where artificial intelligence is a foundational capability shaping how medicines are discovered, developed, and delivered to patients. We are seeking a Scientific AI Engineer to design and build end-to-end AI solutions that directly impact Oncology R&D decision‑making. This role sits at the intersection of deep scientific understanding and hands on AI engineering, translating complex biological, translational, and clinical questions into applied AI solutions.

In this role, you will partner closely with Oncology scientists, clinicians, and product leaders to prototype, iterate, and deliver AI enabled insights, with a strong emphasis on speed, scientific rigor, and real-world usability.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and prototype AI/ML solutions addressing Oncology discovery, translational, and clinical development challenges.
• Apply advanced analytical and machine learning methods to multimodal datasets (e.g., molecular, clinical, real-world, literature).
• Own solutions end-to-end, from problem framing and data exploration through model development and user facing outputs.
• Collaborate closely with domain experts to ensure solutions are scientifically grounded and decision relevant.
• Rapidly iterate on prototypes based on user feedback and evolving scientific needs.
• Contribute technical expertise to solution design discussions led by the Oncology AI Product & Engineering Lead.
• Document methods, assumptions, and limitations to support transparency and responsible AI practices.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years of relevant work experience OR Master’s degree and 5+ years of experience OR PhD and 1+ years of experience. Advanced degree in computational biology, data science, machine learning, engineering, or related field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience building applied AI/ML solutions in life sciences, healthcare, or advanced analytics environments.
• Strong hands‑on programming skills (e.g., Python) and experience working with data pipelines and ML frameworks.
• Solid understanding of Oncology biology, translational science, or clinical development workflows.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous problem spaces and deliver working prototypes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in pharma, biotech, or AI driven health technology startups.
• Familiarity with prototyping approaches for AI products rather than long cycle production systems.
• Experience working with large, heterogeneous datasets common to Oncology R&D.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $139,100.00 to $231,900.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 17.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.

This role is posted in multiple locations. If you are applying for the role in an secondary job posting location where pay transparency regulations apply, your Talent Advisor will share the local pay information with you during the first interview.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

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To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.