Scientific AI Platform Expert, Disease Area X

Job Description Summary

The Scientific AI Platform Expert will join the Disease Area X (DAx) Data Science team at Novartis to build enterprise-grade, AI analysis platforms and data products to accelerate drug discovery. This role will lead and partner on multidisciplinary project teams, operationalize generative and agentic AI solutions, contribute to shaping DAx AI data strategy, and collaborate with enterprise IT teams. This role reports to the Head of Data Science, DAx.

Internal job title: Expert I/II, Data Science

Position Location : Cambridge, MA, Hybrid

This role is based in Cambridge, MA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate scientific and operational AI needs into impactful, decision-enabling solutions.
• Hands-on design, build, and sustain scalable AI-focused omics pipelines, APIs, and integrated data products.
• Scale AI workflows using reproducible, transparent, secure, and FAIR data practices.
• Prioritize resources against evolving research needs.
• Provide input to the team on project evaluation, deployment, lifecycle, and governance practices.
• Assist as needed with the onboarding of external vendors and service providers.
• Effectively provide input to the team on strategy, implementation details and results through internal and external presentations, posters, publications, and technical documentation.

Essential Requirements

• BS or MS in AI/ML, data science/engineering, computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science/engineering, mathematics, physics, or a related discipline, with 3+ years of hands‑on experience in scientific data science or engineering, AI/ML, computational research within the biopharma and/or technology industry. We will also consider qualified recent PhD graduates (within last 2 years).
• Experience building and operating production‑grade multimodal data platforms for scientific analysis: omics data, data modeling, patient metadata, lineage, access controls, and reproducible workflows.
• Experience with omics analysis pipelines (i.e. genomics, transcriptomics), MCP, LLM patterns, biological foundational models, agent orchestration, and deep learning frameworks (i.e. Pytorch) is preferred.
• Familiarity with current agentic frameworks such Claude Science, Biomni, Gemini or other open-source co‑scientist platforms.
• Deep practical experience in software or data engineering (i.e. agile), including Python, SQL, version control, testing, workflow orchestration, cloud platforms, and data lakes (i.e. Snowflake, Databricks, Palantir Foundry, AWS).
• Strong communication, interpersonal, ethical, self‑awareness, and customer service skills.

Desired Requirements

• Demonstrated record of scientific or technical impact through publications, conference proceedings, open‑source contributions, patents, or deployed data products.
• Experience leading and supporting cross‑functionally across diverse science or engineering teams, influencing key stakeholders across a matrix organization.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary for this position is expected to range between $103,600 and $192,400 USD annually for Expert I, Data Science, and $114,100 and $211,900 USD annually for Expert II, Data Science. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change 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 to be considered for annual equity awards.
• US‑based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits.
• In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people.

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility an