Novartis Pharma AG - June 24, 2026

Job Summary

Job Title: Director & Group Head (AI Systems & Scale)
#LI-Hybrid
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Relocation Support: This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support; please only apply if accessible.

Novartis has embraced a bold strategy to drive a company-wide digital transformation. Our objective is to position Novartis as an industry leader by proactively adopting digital technologies that foster innovative approaches to hasten drug discovery and development. By utilizing both internal and external R&D data with the power of data science, predictive models, generative AI, and machine learning, we aim to identify new targets, create more effective therapeutic molecules, better predict drug pharmacokinetics and safety risks, refine clinical trial design, and significantly shorten development cycles. The AI4R team leads Novartis Biomedical Research (BR) in exploring and applying advanced AI and ML methodologies to generate novel drug discovery insights and improve drug discovery efficiency whilst focusing on patients' needs.

Our AI4R team collaborates with drug discovery teams, elevates AI expertise across BR, and ensures that our science aligns with the rapidly evolving ecosystem of AI technologies by forging connections with leaders in academia and industry.

This is a pivotal leadership role within the AI Systems & Scale group of AI4R, responsible for technical and project leadership. You will critically assess and specialize in deploying computing, data, model, code, and agentic platforms for the rapid enablement and adoption of AI strategies that maximize impact on key areas of biomedical research, ultimately improving drug development timelines.

About the Role

Step into a leadership role where you will shape the future of AI at scale. As Director & Group Head (AI-Systems & Scale), you will drive the design and deployment of next-generation AI systems that empower scientists to seamlessly utilize data, models, and intelligent workflows to accelerate drug discovery. You will lead high-performing engineering teams, define scalable architectures, and ensure AI solutions are robust, governed, and impactful—bringing innovative therapies closer to patients more efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

Define and lead the multi-year roadmap for scalable AI systems, platforms, and agentic architectures across research.
Lead and scale multidisciplinary teams delivering production-grade AI systems and intelligent applications.
Establish reference architectures for agentic systems, including orchestration, retrieval, memory, and human-in-the-loop controls.
Build and standardize enterprise agentic platforms with reusable components, workflows, and evaluation frameworks.
Define and enforce machine learning operations and large language model operations standards across AI systems development.
Own agent quality and safety engineering, including guardrails, policy enforcement, and failure detection mechanisms.
Drive scalable deployment strategies, ensuring performance, reliability, cost efficiency, and multi-tenant architecture.
Define performance metrics linking system effectiveness to scientific outcomes, including accuracy, robustness, and efficiency.
Partner with data, security, and platform teams to ensure governance, compliance, and responsible data usage.
Drive cross-functional collaboration and portfolio management to prioritize high-impact AI system initiatives and reduce duplication.

Essential Requirements

Demonstrated experience leading machine learning capability development initiatives across multiple drug discovery domains and teams.
Strong experience applying machine learning across functional areas such as computational chemistry or protein modeling.
Proven expertise in large model training, including high-performance computing, cloud environments, and distributed systems.
Deep curiosity and passion for biomedical sciences and therapeutic discovery.
Strong ability to explain complex machine learning concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Minimum of 10+ years of experience in innovation, development, deployment, and support of machine learning solutions.
Strong coding proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks, with experience using version control systems.
Proven ability to manage complexity, align stakeholders, and deliver results in matrixed environments.

Desirable Requirements

Experience building enterprise-scale agentic platforms with orchestration, memory, and retrieval systems.
Expertise in machine learning operations and large-scale model deployment with monitoring and drift detection.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Novartis is dedicated to creating an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams that represent the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and Accommodation

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with medical conditions or disabilities. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process or need detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please reach out to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and include the nature of your request along with your contact information. Don’t forget to include the job requisition number in your message.

Apply Online

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Why Novartis

Helping people with diseases and their families takes more than innovative science. It requires a community of smart, passionate individuals. Collaborating, supporting, and inspiring one another, we aim for breakthroughs that improve patients' lives. Ready to create a brighter future together?

Benefits and Rewards

Discover how we will support your personal and professional growth. Learn more in our handbook.

Salary

Primary location salary range: CHF 146,300.00 - CHF 271,700.00

Director & Group Head (AI-Systems & Scale) / Directress & Group Head (AI-Systems & Scale)