Assoc Director, Data Scientist

  • Gilead Sciences
  • Foster City, California
  • Full Time

At Gilead, were creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, weve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the worlds biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gileads team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and were looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

Gilead's AI Research Center(ARC) is looking for a Principal Data Scientist to spearhead the adoption of AI/ML and transform our clinical development processes. This is a pivotal role where you will provide key thought leadership and drive our strategic vision for advanced analytics, with the goal of optimizing clinical trials, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and providing support for Real-World Evidence (RWE), Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers initiatives.

You will be a thought leader in applying AI/ML to real-world clinical challenges, taking deep involvement in all stages of technical developmentfrom coding and configuring compute environments to model evaluation, review, and architecture design. You'll work closely with a variety of cross-functional teams, including architects, data engineers, and product managers, to scope, develop, and operationalize our AI-driven applications, with a specific focus on leveraging AI/ML to advance insights within RWE, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers.

Responsibilities:

  • Innovate and Strategize: Spearhead the strategic vision for leveraging AI/ML within clinical development. You'll partner with cross-functional leaders to identify high-impact opportunities and design innovative solutions that transform how we conduct trials and make data-driven decisions.
  • Lead with Expertise: Guide the full lifecycle of machine learning models from initial concept to real-world application. This includes architecting scalable solutions, hands-on algorithm development, and ensuring models are rigorously evaluated and operationalized for use in RWE, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers.
  • Mentor and Empower: Act as a force multiplier for our data science team. You'll coach and mentor senior and junior data scientists, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
  • Translate and Execute: Serve as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders. You'll translate complex business challenges into precise data science problems and, in a product manager-like role, drive the development of these solutions from proof-of-concept to production.
  • Drive Breakthroughs: Research and develop cutting-edge algorithms to solve critical challenges. This could involve using NLP for patient insights, computer vision for biomarker analysis, or predictive models to optimize trial logistics. You'll be at the forefront of applying these techniques in a biotech context.
  • Build the Foundation: Design and implement the technical and process building blocks needed to scale our AI/ML capabilities. This includes working with IT partners to curate and operationalize the datasets essential for fueling our analytical pipelines.
  • Influence and Advise: Interface directly with internal stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor to help them understand the potential of advanced analytics and apply data-driven approaches to optimize clinical trial operations.
  • Stay Ahead: Continuously monitor the landscape of machine learning and biopharmaceutical innovation. You'll ensure our team is leveraging the latest state-of-the-art techniques to maintain a competitive edge.

Technical Skills:

  • Advanced Model Development & Operationalization: Deep expertise in developing, deploying, and managing complex machine learning and deep learning algorithms at scale. This includes a profound understanding of model evaluation, scoring methodologies, and mitigation of model bias to ensure robust, ethical, and reliable outcomes.
  • Data & Computational Proficiency: Fluent in Python or R and SQL , with hands-on experience in building and optimizing data pipelines for analytical and model development purposes.
  • Cloud-Native AI/ML: Demonstrated experience with Cloud DevOps on AWS as it pertains to the entire data science lifecycle, from data ingestion to model serving and monitoring.
  • Translational Research: Proven ability to translate foundational AI/ML research into functional, production-ready packages and applications that directly support strategic initiatives in areas like RWE, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers .

Basic Qualifications:

  • Doctorate and 5+ years of relevant experience OR
  • Masters and 8+ years of relevant experience OR
  • Bachelors and 10+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to translate stakeholder needs into clear technical requirements, including those related to RWE, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers .
  • Skill in scoping project requirements and developing timelines.
  • Knowledge of product management principles.
  • Experience with code management using Git .
  • Strong technical documentation skills.

Join us at the AI Research Center to shape the future of clinical development with groundbreaking AI/ML solutions, and contribute to advancements in RWE, Clinical Pharmacology, and Biomarkers !

The salary range for this position is:

Bay Area: $210,375.00 - $272,250.00.Other US Locations: $191,250.00 - $247,500.00.

Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

For jobs in the United States:

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex , age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

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For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.

Job ID: 490011510
Originally Posted on: 8/19/2025

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