Alcon

Associate Director and Senior Principal, AI Methods, AI for Research (AI4R)

Alcon$160K — $297K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of experience in machine learning for drug discovery
  • Hands-on expertise in target identification and protein modelling
  • Experience with large-scale model training and cloud infrastructure
  • Advanced knowledge of modern ML methods like neural networks
  • Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks
  • Proven ability to innovate in complex team environments

Responsibilities

  • Lead teams to develop scalable ML solutions for drug discovery
  • Drive core ML capabilities for biomedical research AI use cases
  • Identify opportunities for methodological innovation in drug discovery
  • Build algorithms and workflows to accelerate therapeutic discovery
  • Manage collaborations with academic and research partners
  • Act as a ML subject matter expert in research domains
  • Translate model outputs into actionable scientific hypotheses
  • Define success metrics for AI models to ensure research impact
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to align AI solutions with objectives
  • Promote advanced AI methods within the research organization

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, life, and disability coverage
  • 401(k) plan with company contribution and matching
  • Generous time-off package including vacation and holidays
  • Performance-based cash incentives
  • Eligibility for annual equity awards
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary
Job Title: Associate Director and Senior Principal, AI Methods, AI for Research (AI4R)
#LI-Hybrid

Location: Cambridge, USA

Relocation Support: This role is based in Cambridge, USA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead matrixed teams to design and deliver robust, scalable machine learning solutions for drug discovery
  • Drive development of core machine learning capabilities across priority AI use cases in biomedical research
  • Identify opportunities for methodological innovation across the end-to-end drug discovery pipeline
  • Build advanced algorithms, models, and workflows to accelerate therapeutic discovery and development
  • Establish and manage strategic collaborations with leading academic and external research partners
  • Act as subject matter expert on state-of-the-art machine learning approaches across research domains
  • Translate complex model outputs into actionable scientific hypotheses and guide experimental design
  • Define and implement meaningful success metrics for AI models to ensure measurable research impact
  • Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to align AI solutions with scientific and business objectives
  • Promote awareness and adoption of advanced AI methods within the broader research organization


Essential Requirements
  • 6+ years of experience in developing and deploying machine learning solutions across drug discovery domains
  • Hands-on expertise applying machine learning to target identification, protein modelling, or translational research
  • Strong experience with large-scale model training, high performance computing, and cloud-based infrastructure
  • Advanced knowledge of modern machine learning methods such as representation learning or neural network architectures
  • Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks, with strong software development and version control practices
  • Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and deliver impactful machine learning solutions in complex, matrixed environments

Desirable Requirements
  • Demonstrated contributions through publications, patents, or open-source projects in advanced machine learning research
  • Experience with multimodal or foundation models applied to biomedical data such as imaging, genomics, or molecular structures


Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary

The salary for this position is expected to range between 1,60,300.00 - 2,97,700.00 USD Annual.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors such as relevant skills and experience and will be reviewed periodically upon joining Novartis. Novartis may update the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible associates receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life, and disability coverage, a 401(k) plan with company contribution and matching, and a range of additional benefits. Associates are also eligible for a generous time-off package, including vacation, personal days, holidays, and other leave options. To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Salary Range
$160,300.00 - $297,700.00

Skills Desired
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biostatistics, Business Value Creation, Change Management, Curious Mindset, Data Governance, Data Literacy, Data Quality, Data Science, Data Visualization, Deep Learning, Graph Algorithms, Learning Agility, Machine Learning (ML), Machine Learning Algorithms, Nlp (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) And Genai (Inactive), Organization Awareness (Inactive), Pandas (Python) (Inactive), Python (Programming Language), R Programming, Stakeholder Engagement, Statistical Analysis, Structured Query Language (SQL), Time Series Analysis

About Alcon

Alcon is a global medical company specializing in eye care products and services. The company's products include surgical equipment, contact lenses, and eye drops. Alcon was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. The company operates in over 70 countries and has over 20,000 employees. In 2019, Alcon became an independent publicly traded company after being spun off from Novartis.
Learn more about Alcon
Size
24,389 employees
Market Cap
$33.3 billion
Industry
Founded
1945
NASDAQ

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