Associate Director in Data Science, Digital Endpoints Pharma R & D (Billerica MA)

Your Role In this pivotal role, you will build and establish scientific excellence in the development of digital biomarkers and endpoints within the Advanced Data Science team in the Data Sciences organization. You will lead the identification, development, and deployment of novel digital endpoints and outcome measures across clinical trials and life cycle management programs. Collaborating closely with the Integrated Health & Medicines organization, you will spearhead the design and validation of machine learning-driven algorithms and data processing pipelines that extract clinically relevant insights from high-volume digital health data sources, such as wearables, sensors and apps, mobile devices, and patient-facing applications. You will develop and implement advanced machine learning and data science methods to process multimodal time-series data generated by digital devices, ensuring scientific rigor, clinical validity, and regulatory readiness. As a subject matter expert, you will embed digital health technologies within evidence generation strategies, driving their acceptance in clinical trials and practice. You will also contribute to key regulatory filings and publications, advocating for the adoption of digital endpoints within the global R&D community. Staying at the forefront of emerging trends, you will explore and integrate emerging AI paradigms, including large language models (LLMs) and agentic AI systems, to support data interpretation, workflow automation, and digital health analytics. Your leadership will champion transformation efforts that unlock the full potential of Digital Health Technologies. This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US. Minimum Qualifications You hold a PhD in a quantitative discipline (e.g., data science, computer science, biomedical engineering, statistics, physics, or related field) with a focus on large-scale data analysis. You have a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical, digital endpoints, AI/ML or related industry. You possess a proven track record in designing and validating digital endpoints or biomarkers for clinical applications. You have hands‑on experience processing and analyzing large‑scale data streams from digital health technologies, including wearables, sensors, smartphones, or connected medical devices. You have experience in building machine learning pipelines for time-series and multimodal sensor data, including feature extraction, signal processing, and model development. You have strong expertise in digital biomarker/endpoint development, including psychometric and statistical validation and regulatory aspects. You have solid understanding of modern machine learning and AI methods (e.g., deep learning, representation learning, time-series modeling) as applied to digital health and behavioral data. You have experience with scalable data processing and ML frameworks (e.g., Python data ecosystem, distributed data processing, or cloud/HPC environments). You have familiarity with generative AI and large language models, and an interest in emerging paradigms such as agentic LLM systems or AI-assisted scientific workflows. Preferred Qualifications You possess excellent stakeholder management skills and can navigate matrixed organizations effectively. You have strong communication and scientific writing skills, enabling you to translate complex technical content for diverse audiences. Location On‑site Billerica MA Pay Range The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job‑related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance‑based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. What We Offer We believe in a culture of inclusion and belonging that supports growth and innovation. We provide opportunities for personal and professional development, flexible working options, and a commitment to equitable access for all employees. #J-18808-Ljbffr Merck Group