Jobs / United States / Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Director, AI and Machine Learning for Biology

LaJolla/SD Posted today

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Skills this job asks for

Machine learningLeadershipStatisticsDeep learningPython

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Sponsorship verdict

Sponsorship possible

One solid signal, not two. Worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.

  • Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 75 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first.
  • The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
  • No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area.
  • What Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation paid sponsored hires in similar roles3 certified filings for “Director, AI Use Case Lead” (Computer and Information Research Scientists) in NJ: $186k–$186k, median $186k.
  • Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
Details and sources
Employer is on a government sponsor record
The US Department of Labor certified 75 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
No salary bar for this route
H-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
What Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation paid sponsored hires in similar roles
3 certified filings for “Director, AI Use Case Lead” (Computer and Information Research Scientists) in NJ: $186k–$186k, median $186k. Most were filed at wage level III (100%) — 3 lottery entries, ≈46% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).

US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).

A verdict summarises public evidence. It is not legal advice and never a guarantee: the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.

About the role

Job Description Summary The Director, Data Science & AI will shape and execute DARe’s global AI strategy, lead its US data science capability, and connect computational, experimental, and translational teams and external partners to accelerate target discovery and strengthen DARe’s scientific leadership.   Job Description Internal Job Title: Director Data Science Position Location: San Diego, California, onsite About the Role: DARe is building an AI-enabled discovery engine that integrates longitudinal human data, genetics, multi-omics, imaging, and advanced biological models to uncover causal drivers of aging, resilience, and regeneration. Our goal is to translate these insights into differentiated novel therapeutic targets and medicines for age-related diseases. We are seeking an exceptional scientific and technical leader to shape DARe’s global Data Science & AI strategy and build our US capability in San Diego. The successful candidate will combine strategic leadership with technical depth to guide high-impact AI programs, connect computational and experimental science, and translate emerging capabilities into meaningful drug-discovery decisions. Key Responsibilities: • Lead the US DARe Data Science & AI efforts and shape the global AI and ML strategy  • Define a prioritized portfolio of Data Science & AI initiatives, establish clear measures of scientific and operational impact, and ensure that investments translate into better target decisions, stronger experimental design, and accelerated discovery. • Co-shape and drive data science and AI efforts supporting target identification, target prioritization, and validation across disease programs and contribute to the DARe long-term scientific AI vision • Lead the development and application of biological foundation models, multimodal learning, biomedical knowledge graphs, and agentic workflows to drive evidence integration and target prioritization • Work at the intersection of human genetics, longitudinal clinical trajectories, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, imaging, and electronic health record data. • Build, lead, and develop a high-performing US-based team spanning applied AI, machine learning, computational biology, and data science, while creating meaningful growth opportunities for early-career talent. • Evaluate emerging technologies and establish external partnerships that accelerate DARe's AI capabilities. • Translate scientific questions into computational strategies, selecting fit-for-purpose statistical, machine learning, AI, and bioinformatics approaches. • Build strong organizational connectivity to ensure effective collaboration, knowledge sharing, and execution and foster a one-team culture across geographies and scientific disciplines • Drive AI adoption across the department • Partner closely with internal functions including Data and Digital, Discovery Sciences and Disease areas Essential Requirements: • PhD in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Data Science, Computer Science, Systems Biology or a related quantitative discipline combined with a deep understanding of biology • 10+ year experience applying advanced computational and AI approaches to biomedical research, drug discovery, or translational medicine. • Proven success leading multidisciplinary global teams across AI, human data, and experimental science • Demonstrated experience developing or applying advanced machine-learning approaches to complex biological data, such as foundation models, representation learning, generative models, or multimodal learning across sequence, single-cell, spatial, imaging, or other biomedical data. • Strong working knowledge of deep learning, representation learning, multi-modal AI, generative AI, large-scale biological data mode

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