Applied AI and Machine Learning Scientist (Director)

Pfizer • Cambridge, MA

3d • $176,600 - $294,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Applied AI / ML Scientist position leads the technical evaluation, development, and application of AI across the Internal Medicine Research Unit (IMRU). This role translates advances in foundation models, agentic systems, multimodal AI, and related methods into reusable capabilities that strengthen scientific decision-making end-to-end. The role combines deep technical credibility with strong scientific judgment and is accountable for shaping the AI portfolio within the newly created AI for IM Discovery (AIM2) Discovery Center within the IMRU. This includes defining governance and evaluation standards, assessing AI/ML capabilities in external (or internal) partnerships, and accelerating practical AI adoption across IMRU. This role is intended for a technically credible AI leader who can operate at the interface of machine learning, computational biology, and drug discovery, while remaining grounded in the realities of scientific decision-making. Success will require setting a clear strategy, directing high-value use cases, ensuring that solutions and partnerships are scientifically robust and trusted, and building reusable capabilities that improve the speed, quality, and coherence of evidence generation across the portfolio.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in computer science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, engineering, life sciences, or a related quantitative or scientific field preferred.
• Typically, candidates at this level will bring substantial relevant experience, for example approximately 9+ years with a Master’s degree, 10+ years with a Bachelor’s degree, or 7+ years with a PhD, while recognizing that the right mix of scope, technical depth, scientific credibility, and impact matters more than degree alone.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in applied AI, computational science, data science, digital transformation, or related domains, ideally with responsibility for strategy, portfolio prioritization, and value realization.
• Strong hands-on understanding of LLMs, foundation models, generative AI, machine learning, and related AI approaches, with the technical credibility to guide decisions, assess trade-offs, and challenge weak approaches even when not serving as the primary builder.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, prioritize, and shape high-value use cases in ambiguous environments, translating scientific or stakeholder needs into practical, reusable solutions with measurable impact.
• Experience building and scaling reusable workflows, methods, products, or platforms rather than delivering isolated one-off analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategy, shape AI portfolios, and communicate impact and return on investment to senior stakeholders in a clear and credible way.
• Strong matrix leadership, communication, and influence skills, including the ability to align senior stakeholders, provide technical and strategic direction, and drive adoption without relying solely on formal authority.
• Sound judgment regarding methodological rigor, evaluation, provenance, model limitations, risk, and the appropriate role of human oversight in AI-enabled scientific workflows.
• Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
• U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.
• This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in life sciences, pharma, biotech, translational science, omics, or related research environments.
• Experience and/or training in cardiovascular, metabolic, or obesity biology.
• Demonstrated ability to operate fluently across AI / technology and biology, grounding technical solutions in scientific reality and engaging credibly with scientists and line leaders.
• Experience with AI adoption, productization, governance, or workflow transformation in complex, matrixed, regulated organizations.
• Familiarity with scientific evidence synthesis, literature and document workflows, retrieval-augmented approaches, multimodal AI, or agentic systems applied to scientific problems.
• Experience working with external technology partners, vendors, or academic collaborators to evaluate, shape, or deploy AI capabilities.
• Evidence of an entrepreneurial, product-minded approach, including spotting opportunities, making pragmatic trade-offs, iterating rapidly, and turning promising concepts into durable capabilities that are reused and adopted.

Responsibilities

• Provide AI/ML technical leadership for AIM2 and define a clear roadmap for how large language models, agentic systems, multimodal AI, and related methods will be applied to high-value scientific problems across Internal Medicine Research Unit (IMRU).
• Lead the technical evaluation and development of the AI capabilities in the AIM2, identifying, prioritizing, and shaping opportunities so that AIM2 focuses on areas where technically credible, reusable AI capabilities can create meaningful scientific or operational leverage.
• Provide senior technical and scientific direction across AIM2 Discovery Center, ensuring that proposed solutions are methodologically sound, fit for purpose, and grounded in biological, translational, and drug discovery context.
• Guide the development of reusable AI-enabled capabilities that strengthen scientific decision-making end-to-end, with emphasis on scientific rigor, technical quality, reproducibility, and practical utility across IMRU lines.
• Establish governance and evaluation standards for AI-built capabilities, including expectations for provenance, validation, guardrails, responsible use, and appropriate human oversight.
• Partner closely with IMRU Integrative Biology, IMRU line teams, MLCS, and Digital partners to ensure that AI efforts remain tightly aligned to real scientific needs and can be deployed in ways that are trusted, scalable, and adopted in day-to-day work.
• Shape and manage selected external partnerships relevant to AIM2 priorities, helping evaluate emerging technologies and collaborators while ensuring that external engagements remain aligned to Pfizer priorities and IMRU needs.
• Articulate the value and impact of the AI capabilities within IMRU to senior stakeholders, including technical differentiation, adoption trajectory, and return on investment of key initiatives to support strategic planning and decision making.
• Build a strong technical culture within AIM2 and across IMRU, fostering scientific curiosity, high standards, collaboration, and continuous learning, while helping raise confidence in the responsible application of AI across IMRU.

Benefits

• 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
• health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
• Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director