Senior Scientist – Biologics AI Innovation

AstraZeneca • Waltham, MA

7d • $116,670 - $175,006

About The Position

About the Role: We are seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Scientist to drive Biologics AI innovation at AstraZeneca’s US R&D centers in Waltham, MA or Gaithersburg, MD. This pivotal leadership role will focus on integrating state-of-the-art artificial intelligence with wet-lab discovery, enabling synergistic advances in biologics engineering. You will work collaboratively across computational and experimental functions, influence the direction of AI-driven research, and champion the seamless collection and translation of high-quality data for the design of next-generation biotherapeutics.

Requirements

• Master and 2+ years experience or Phd and 0+ years of experience in mathematics, physics, computer science, statistics, bioinformatics, or a related discipline, with substantial academic or industry experience in the application of AI/ML to biological problems.
• Deep expertise and hands-on track record in developing and deploying machine learning and deep learning models for protein sequence and structure analysis, biologics design, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in leading initiatives that combine computational modeling with experimental biology, ideally in a therapeutics or biopharmaceutical setting.
• Strong programming and analytical skills, including proficiency with Python and major AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX.
• Familiarity with large-scale data engineering, cloud computing, and FAIR data principles.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with proven success in cross-functional environments and multi-site collaborations.
• Demonstrable record of scientific innovation, as evidenced by publications, patents, or successful project delivery in biologics discovery or engineering.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with structural informatics, structural biology, or structure-based rational design.
• Experience with molecular dynamic simulation and structure modeling.
• Experience with multi-modal learning, agentic AI, or the integration of heterogeneous biological data formats.
• Prior leadership, mentoring, or line management experience in industrial or academic R&D.
• Recognized presence in the external scientific community through publications, conference presentations, or collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and design AI strategies for biologics discovery and engineering, with a focus on AI–wet lab integration and accelerated translation of computational findings to experiments.
• Oversee and guide the development of innovative models, including protein language models, structure prediction models, de novo protein design, and multi-modal approaches combining sequence, structure, and biological activity data.
• Act as a scientific bridge and champion for cross-functional collaboration between AI scientists and wet-lab teams within the US, and in close alignment with global teams.
• Drive the generation, curation, and utilization of high-quality wet-lab data; provide actionable feedback to experimental teams for optimizing data production for ML applications.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement emerging technologies, adopting best practices in data science, computational biology, and protein engineering to ensure world-class innovation and delivery.
• Mentor junior scientists and provide scientific leadership in biologics AI, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing team environment.
• Communicate progress, challenges, and strategy to stakeholders at all levels, contributing to strategic decision-making and representing the team in internal and external collaborations.
• Author scientific publications, contribute to intellectual property, and serve as an ambassador for AstraZeneca in the external scientific community through presentations and collaborations.

Benefits

• Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles.
• Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

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