Associate Director, Lab Automation & Intelligent Orchestration
About The Position
Join Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine as an Associate Director, Lab Automation & Intelligent Orchestration, located on-site in Spring House, PA. This role is pivotal in building the next generation of AI-native automation platforms within Discovery Technologies and Molecular Pharmacology. The focus is on leveraging intelligent orchestration and advanced analytics to scale human-relevant biology and multimodal omics data generation. The successful candidate will establish lab-in-the-loop capabilities to generate high-quality biological data at scale, accelerate learning cycles, and enable predictive AI-driven drug discovery. This strategic, hands-on leadership position requires expertise in laboratory automation, AI-driven orchestration, and systems integration, combined with a strong understanding of drug discovery, complex cellular models, and omics technologies. The role involves driving strategic roadmaps, leading cross-functional initiatives, and deploying scalable experimental platforms to enhance speed, reproducibility, and unlock new opportunities for AI-enabled discovery.
Requirements
- Ph.D., M.S., or equivalent experience in Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Biology, or a related discipline.
- At least 6 years of relevant experience developing and scaling laboratory automation, experimental platforms, or advanced technology solutions within drug discovery.
- Strong understanding of drug discovery workflows, complex human-relevant biological models, and multimodal data generation approaches, including omics technologies.
- Deep expertise in laboratory automation, robotics, instrument integration, and workflow engineering, with experience designing and scaling complex experimental platforms.
- Experience building automated workflows that integrate experimentation, data generation, analytics, and digital systems.
- Knowledge of AI-ready data architectures, metadata frameworks, and multimodal data integration strategies.
- Demonstrated success translating emerging technologies into scalable research platforms and leading technical teams in a highly matrixed organization.
- Strategic thinker with a science-to-impact mindset, capable of translating emerging technologies into scalable discovery capabilities and communicating effectively with both technical and executive audiences.
- Innovative, self-motivated leader with strong collaboration, prioritization, and problem-solving skills who thrives in fast-paced, highly matrixed environments.
- Proven ability to lead through influence, drive organizational change, and build productive partnerships across internal teams, external collaborators, vendors, and technology providers.
Nice To Haves
- Experience implementing lab-in-the-loop experimentation, AI-enabled workflows, agentic AI, intelligent orchestration, and autonomous experimentation.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives across biology, engineering, data science, informatics, and technology.
- Proven ability to translate emerging technologies into scalable scientific capabilities and business impact.
- Experience with AI/ML-enabled experimental workflows, agentic AI systems, workflow orchestration, or scientific computing platforms.
Responsibilities
- Drive strategic roadmaps and investment priorities for AI-native experimental platforms that enable scalable experimentation, multimodal data generation, and AI-driven discovery.
- Lead the evaluation, adoption, and scaling of transformative technologies, including robotics, autonomous experimentation, agentic AI, and intelligent orchestration, to accelerate learning cycles and discovery outcomes.
- Design, deploy, and scale automated platforms supporting human-relevant models, multimodal data generation, and advanced omics workflows.
- Build lab-in-the-loop capabilities integrating automation, AI/ML models, analytics, and intelligent orchestration to accelerate experimentation, learning cycles, and predictive modeling.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives across biology, data science, AI/ML, informatics, engineering, and discovery organizations to align platform development with scientific priorities and accelerate AI-enabled discovery.
- Build strategic partnerships with technology providers, automation vendors, academic collaborators, and contract research organizations (CROs) while serving as a thought leader driving adoption of next-generation capabilities across the organization.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team of automation engineers, scientists, and technical specialists while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Strengthen organizational capabilities in automation, AI, and experimental science through talent development, coaching, and a culture that promotes innovation, learning, and scientific excellence.
Benefits
- medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance.
- consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
- Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year
- Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
- Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year
- Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
