Principal Scientist, SOP & Workflow Automation Champion, AI for Drug Discovery (AIDD)
$201,300–$373,800 year
On-siteSouth San Francisco, California, United States
Job Summary
Design computational workflow architecture that operationalizes modular ML components into scalable, reproducible, and agentic-ready systems. Lead the development and standardization of SOPs for model integration, data pipelines, and workflow execution across gRED and pRED. Partner strategically with Roche's platform engineering teams to implement workflows at scale and architect data integration with the centralized data infrastructure (DDC). Collaborate with the modeling team to translate research-stage models into production-ready components with clear interfaces, performance benchmarks, and failure modes. Navigate complex stakeholder environments to align on standards and drive adoption of new computational standards. Lead and mentor engineers and scientists on workflow design, automation best practices, and computational architecture.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in Computer Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, or related field, or equivalent advanced experience (8+ years building computational systems)
- Deep expertise in workflow orchestration, data pipeline design, and software architecture (not just machine learning)
- Proven experience designing systems that integrate heterogeneous data sources, models, and processes at scale
- Strong proficiency in Python and modern ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX)
- Familiarity with workflow tools (Nextflow, Snakemake, Airflow, or similar)
- Understanding of software engineering practices: version control, testing, documentation, CI/CD pipelines
- Demonstrated experience working at the intersection of computational methods and experimental biology
- Understanding of drug discovery workflows: what scientists actually need, where handoffs break down, how to design for usability
- Track record of translating research code into production systems that real teams use
- Experience working across technical and non-technical stakeholders (biology, chemistry, engineering)
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives involving multiple teams and organizations
- Track record of driving adoption of new standards, tools, or processes in larger organizations
- Strong communication skills: can explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences and build consensus
- First-author publications or equivalent evidence of research contributions
- Relocation benefits are NOT available for this job posting
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.