Job Description

The Contractor in Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be responsible for developing and implementing advanced AI platforms and algorithms to support Data Science and R&D initiatives in Drug Discovery and Development. The role will focus on enhancing existing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Large Language Model (LLM) frameworks to create state-of-the-art AI solutions that streamline, augment, and automate research and development workflows. The AI Contractor will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Data Science and Global Digital Innovation, to ensure the successful and effective integration of AI technologies into R&D processes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND KEY DELIVERABLES:

• Design and Develop AI Solutions: Serve as an Applied AI Engineer to build and optimize AI platforms and algorithms that leverage foundation LLMs, RAG architectures, and other advanced techniques for augmenting and automating R&D tasks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Associate Director of Biostatistics, Head of Global Data Sciences, technical leaders in Global Digital Innovation, and other project managers to deploy, validate, and refine AI solutions in real-world R&D environments.
• Performance Evaluation and Iteration: Conduct rigorous testing, benchmarking, and continuous improvement of AI models and platforms to ensure scalability, accuracy, and compliance with regulatory and scientific standards.
• Maintain Scalable Codebases: Develop, maintain, and document robust, modular, and scalable codebases to support large datasets and high user concurrency, ensuring performance, security, and ease of future enhancements.
• Tackle research questions in Drug Discovery, Clinical Development, and other areas of R&D that leverage AI models and solutions
• Knowledge Dissemination: Maintain an active external presence through presentations, publications, and contributions to conferences in AI and related R&D domains, demonstrating thought leadership and advancing organizational visibility in the field.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Statistics, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics or related field preferred; MS degree with preferably two plus years of experience in AI research and applications
• Understanding of clinical trial data and extremely hands-on in analysis and reporting of clinical trial data.
• Strong Python programming skills. Proficiency in R and SAS is a plus but not required
• Basic knowledge/experience in pharmaceutical/biotech industry
• Excellent verbal, written and organizational skills.

Additional Information

What we offer:

The pay rate for the AI Contractor position is ** $80/hour** and is expected to be 40 hours per week.

On-site in Emeryville, CA is preferred; remote may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Grow your career at Santen

A career at Santen is an opportunity to make a difference. We aspire to contribute to the realization of “Happiness with Vision” by providing eye health products and services to patients, consumers, and medical professionals around the world. Guided by our CORE PRINCIPLE, “Tenki ni sanyo suru”, Santen is engaged in the global research & development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products in ophthalmology. We have team members around the world using their diverse talents to unlock new modalities and drive innovations for patient outcomes, education and treatment. At Santen, we believe in empowering all our team members with flexible ways of working and a highly inclusive work environment.

The Santen Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building diverse teams and ensuring a safe and inclusive physical and virtual workplace for every one of our team members. All employment decisions are based on business needs, role requirements and individual qualifications regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/ expression, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require any kind of accommodation during our recruitment process, please let the recruiter from our team know.