AI/ML Engineer - Vaccine Research

Pfizer • Pearl River, NY

16h • $106,000 - $176,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking to identify AI/ML Engineers - Vaccine Research who will play a strategic role at the intersection of artificial intelligence, vaccinology, and translational science. You will help define the future of AI-driven vaccinology, with the potential to impact human lives globally. Embedded within Vaccines R&D , supporting viral and bacterial vaccine programs, you will help define how advanced AI methods are applied to unlock new biological insights and accelerate next-generation vaccine innovation. As an AI Science Engineer, you will work shoulder-to-shoulder with leading Scientists, Immunologists, and Clinicians to translate complex biology into differentiated vaccine strategies. Your work will go beyond proof‑of‑concept models - your AI systems will directly inform scientific hypotheses, experimental design, and portfolio decisions across the vaccine pipeline. What you’ll do : Shape scientific strategy with AI Design, develop, and deploy AI systems directly influence vaccine discovery and development decisions, informing antigen selection, experimental prioritization, translational strategies, and clinical study design. Serve as scientific thought partner to vaccine R&D leaders, helping integrate AI-driven insights into program-level and portfolio-level strategy Own foundational and predictive modeling end-to-end Lead AI initiatives spanning antigen discovery and optimization, experimental design, translational modeling, clinical trial simulation, patient stratification, and operational forecasting Take models from concept through validation, deployment, and measurable scientific impact. Advance generative AI for vaccine design Apply state-of-the-art generative and foundation models to protein and antigen engineering. Rapidly prototype, rigorously evaluate, and responsibly deploy AI methods in high-stakes scientific contexts. Engineer robust, scalable AI systems Architect reliable ML pipelines using modern MLOps practices across cloud and HPC environments, with strong attention to reproducibility, governance, and scientific credibility Standardize and automate the ML lifecycle, enabling long-term sustainability, compliance, and auditability. Decode high-dimensional biology and stay at the scientific frontier Integrate multimodal datasets – including omics, immunological data, clinical and real-world evidence, and scientific literature - to uncover biological insight and guide experimental and clinical decision-making. Continuously assess emerging AI methods and technologies, translating cutting-edge advances into practical, defensible applications for vaccine research. Elevate AI fluency across the organization and represent Pfizer science externally Mentor Scientists and Engineers, foster scientific curiosity, and help build a culture where AI-enabled experimentation and learning are embedded in daily R&D practice. Publish, present, and engage with the broader AI, immunology, infectious disease, and vaccine/life-sciences community at leading scientific conferences and forums.

Requirements

• PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Software Engineering, AI, or a related discipline OR Master’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Software Engineering, AI, or a related discipline and a minimum of 2 years of applied AI/ML experience in a Vaccines R&D, Life Sciences or other related discovery focused environment
• Working knowledge of vaccine R&D workflows, including target identification, antigen design and optimization, translational science, clinical development, or portfolio analytics.
• Experience operating fluently across disciplines - molecular biology, systems immunology, pharmacology, and statistics – grounding AI models in biological and clinical reality.
• Demonstrated expertise in foundation model, predictive modeling, generative AI, and ML system design.
• Strong programming skills in Python and modern ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow), with experience scaling models in cloud and/or HPC environments.
• Experience collaborating with Experimental Scientists, Clinicians, and cross-functional partners.
• Clear scientific communicator with intellectual curiosity and a mission-driven mindset focused on improving patient outcomes

Responsibilities

• Shape scientific strategy with AI Design, develop, and deploy AI systems directly influence vaccine discovery and development decisions, informing antigen selection, experimental prioritization, translational strategies, and clinical study design.
• Serve as scientific thought partner to vaccine R&D leaders, helping integrate AI-driven insights into program-level and portfolio-level strategy Own foundational and predictive modeling end-to-end Lead AI initiatives spanning antigen discovery and optimization, experimental design, translational modeling, clinical trial simulation, patient stratification, and operational forecasting Take models from concept through validation, deployment, and measurable scientific impact.
• Advance generative AI for vaccine design Apply state-of-the-art generative and foundation models to protein and antigen engineering. Rapidly prototype, rigorously evaluate, and responsibly deploy AI methods in high-stakes scientific contexts.
• Engineer robust, scalable AI systems Architect reliable ML pipelines using modern MLOps practices across cloud and HPC environments, with strong attention to reproducibility, governance, and scientific credibility Standardize and automate the ML lifecycle, enabling long-term sustainability, compliance, and auditability.
• Decode high-dimensional biology and stay at the scientific frontier Integrate multimodal datasets – including omics, immunological data, clinical and real-world evidence, and scientific literature - to uncover biological insight and guide experimental and clinical decision-making. Continuously assess emerging AI methods and technologies, translating cutting-edge advances into practical, defensible applications for vaccine research.
• Elevate AI fluency across the organization and represent Pfizer science externally Mentor Scientists and Engineers, foster scientific curiosity, and help build a culture where AI-enabled experimentation and learning are embedded in daily R&D practice. Publish, present, and engage with the broader AI, immunology, infectious disease, and vaccine/life-sciences community at leading scientific conferences and forums.

Benefits

• participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 15.0% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program
• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees