Senior Principal Product Leader

1000 Genentech, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 316,000; Full time

Job summary

Genentech, a Roche company based in South San Francisco, seeks a Senior Principal Product Leader for AI & Lab Automation within the Data and Digital Catalysts team. You will own the global product vision bridging AI, intelligent robotics, and scientific workflows across gRED and pRED, shaping the digital backbone of our labs today and autonomous labs of tomorrow.

The role requires 12+ years in scientific product leadership, proven AI/ML product delivery, and deep wet-lab domain knowledge.

Job description

We’re passionate about delivering on Our Promise to improve the lives of patients and create healthier communities for all. We foster a culture of inclusivity, integrity and creativity while boldly pursuing answers to the world’s most complex health challenges and transforming society.

The Opportunity: As the Senior Principal Product Leader for AI & Lab Automation within the Data and Digital Catalysts (DDC) department of the Computational Sciences Center of Excellence (CS CoE), you will drive the global product strategy that bridges artificial intelligence, intelligent robotics, and scientific workflows across gRED and pRED. In this role, you will shape the digital backbone of our research laboratories today while architecting autonomous, closed-loop labs for tomorrow. Own the multi-year product vision, strategy, and roadmap for AI-orchestrated laboratory workflows and automation globally Identify high-value opportunities where AI, intelligent automation, optimization, and agentic capabilities can improve experiment planning, laboratory execution, scientific throughput, and researcher experience. Partner closely with scientists and laboratory teams to understand existing workflows and determine where automation, AI, or workflow redesign can remove bottlenecks and improve experimental outcomes. Guide emerging capabilities—including experiment planning, intelligent scheduling, agentic execution, and anomaly detection—from prototype to production-scale scientific adoption. Lead multidisciplinary global teams spanning product, scientific SMEs, AI/ML, software and data engineering, automation engineering, UX, laboratory operations, security, quality, and external vendors. Establish quantifiable OKRs and product telemetry to track improvements in experimental cycle times, scientific throughput, reproducibility, and data quality. Drive human-in-the-loop operational frameworks and safety guardrails, balancing autonomous execution with scientific oversight and validated laboratory protocols.

Who you are: You bring 12+ years of experience in product leadership, scientific technology, laboratory automation, or research informatics with deep accountability for complex scientific platforms. You demonstrate a proven track record of conceptualizing, deploying, and scaling AI/ML-driven products, optimization engines, or autonomous systems in physical or laboratory execution environments. You hold a deep domain understanding of wet lab workflows, instrument robotics, integrated work cells, scheduling systems, and scientific data architectures (metadata, provenance, ontologies, and FAIR data principles). You possess proven experience leading cross-functional matrixed initiatives and aligning multidisciplinary teams (software engineering, wet lab scientists, AI specialists, and operations). You exhibit exceptional executive communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex AI and physical automation concepts into actionable strategy for diverse scientific and technical audiences.

Preferred Advanced degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Life Sciences, Bioengineering, Robotics, Computer Science, AI/ML, or an adjacent quantitative discipline. Hands-on technical familiarity with high-throughput laboratory automation ecosystems (e.g., automated liquid handlers, plate readers, robotic arms, scheduling software). Prior domain exposure to automated experimentation within high-throughput screening, genomics, protein sciences, bioanalytics, or synthetic chemistry.

Location This role is based in South San Francisco and offers a hybrid schedule working 3 day per week on campus No relocation benefits are available for this posting

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of CA is 170,200-$316,000. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.

This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.

Who We Are Genentech, a member of the Roche group and founder of the biotechnology industry, is dedicated to pursuing groundbreaking science to discover and develop medicines for people with serious and life-threatening diseases. To solve the world’s most complex health challenges, we ask bigger questions that challenge our industry and the boundaries of science to transform society. Our transformational discoveries include the first targeted antibody for cancer and the first medicine for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. The next step is yours.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws. If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.