12+ years of experience in product leadership, scientific technology, or laboratory automation.
Proven track record in deploying and scaling AI/ML-driven products in laboratory environments.
Deep understanding of wet lab workflows and scientific data architectures.
Experience leading cross-functional teams across diverse disciplines.
Exceptional communication skills to convey complex concepts to varied audiences.
Preferred: Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Bioengineering, Robotics, or related fields.
Preferred: Familiarity with high-throughput laboratory automation ecosystems.
Responsibilities
Own the global product vision and strategy for AI-driven laboratory workflows.
Identify opportunities for AI and automation to enhance scientific processes.
Collaborate with scientists to streamline workflows and improve outcomes.
Guide the development of capabilities from prototype to production.
Lead multidisciplinary teams across product, science, and engineering.
Establish metrics to track improvements in scientific processes.
Implement operational frameworks balancing automation with scientific oversight.
Benefits
Hybrid work schedule with 3 days on campus.
Discretionary annual bonus based on performance.
Access to comprehensive benefits package.
Full Job Description
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 capabilitiesincluding experiment planning, intelligent scheduling, agentic execution, and anomaly detectionfrom 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 or Ph.D.) in Life Sciences, Bioengineering, Robotics, Computer Science, AI/ML, or an adjacent quantitative discipline.
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.
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About Roche
Roche Holding AG is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has bearer shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company headquarters are located in Basel. Roche is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, and the leading provider of cancer treatments globally. The company also produces a range of diagnostic tests for medical professionals and patients. Roche was one of the first companies to bring targeted treatments to patients. In 2019, Roche had over 100,000 employees worldwide, and generated revenue of CHF 61.5 billion.
