Barcelona - Spain or Cambridge - UK (3 days in-office requirement)About AstraZeneca and AISI At AstraZeneca, technology and science meet to change what is possible for patients. We are building a connected, end-to-end Enterprise AI engine — uniting data foundations, AI technology, process reinvention, and business-facing AI to accelerate results across the whole value chain. Within AISI, the Clinical AI teams are building world-class AI capability to accelerate the design, conduct, and analysis of clinical trials across our BioPharmaceuticals pipelines — spanning both early and late phase programmes.

The Opportunity

Bringing new treatments to patients demands scientific excellence at every stage of development. In the Clinical AI team, we focus on one of the most data-rich and decision-intensive parts of that journey: clinical development. Trial design, patient selection, dose optimisation, biomarker strategy, and safety evaluation each represent genuine opportunities where AI and machine learning can add rigour, speed, and precision — not as a replacement for clinical and statistical expertise, but as a powerful complement to it.

You and the team will develop reusable methods and enterprise-scale approaches that measurably advance the late-stage drug pipeline. As a Director, Data Scientist, you will define and drive the AI methodology agenda for one or more programmes within Clinical AI, leading by scientific influence and matrix coordination rather than through a formal hierarchy. Lead, by matrix influence and scientific authority, the delivery of the most complex and high-stakes AI projects — from problem definition and methodology selection through validation, regulatory alignment, and scaled adoption across the enterprise.

Develop and govern reusable, enterprise-grade AI methods and evaluation frameworks for clinical trial settings,



including innovative trial design support, dose optimisation, biomarker discovery, digital twins, predictive and prognostic modelling, and safety and efficacy signal detection. Champion data-centric AI practices at programme level: govern the acquisition, curation, and quality control of datasets for model training, post-training, benchmarking, and evaluation across clinical and regulatory settings. Serve as a technical mentor and thought partner for Associate Directors and Senior Data Scientists within the Clinical AI team; Contribute to the broader AISI AI for Clinical Development strategy, including cross-functional ways of working, tooling governance, and methodology standards.

Essential Requirements PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, Mathematics, Biomedical Informatics, Computational Biology, or a closely related quantitative discipline — with a strong, hands-on computational track record. 4-8 years of post-PhD experience in AI and machine learning method development, with demonstrated and sustained impact in clinical, biomedical, or drug development settings (e.g. models delivered, first-author publications, patents, SaMD filings, open-source projects). Deep experience, knowledge, and understanding of one or more fields of biology, with hands-on experience working with biological data such as molecular (DNA, RNA, protein), imaging (radiology, microscopy), or clinical text (EHR, clinical notes). Deep expertise in modern AI methodologies,



including one or more of: foundation model training and fine-tuning; temporal and longitudinal modelling; data-centric AI; model post-training and alignment.

Exceptional software engineering skills: Python, deep learning frameworks (e.g. PyTorch), frontier coding agent frameworks, modern LLM tooling, and cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP). NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, Nature Medicine, Lancet Digital Health).

Experience with MLOps and LLMOps at scale, including CI/CD pipelines and enterprise deployment. Knowledge of computing hardware and its impact on model training and inference at scale.

Experience in a complex integral organisation spanning multiple sites and therapy areas. Ability to deliver high-quality, high-impact contributions independently and at pace. You will join a company investing boldly in AI and data to become truly data-led, where unexpected teams come together to address problems that have never been solved before.

You will help write it — with an outsized voice at regulatory agencies, scientific consortia, and external partners during the narrow window when the rules of the road for AI in pivotal evidence are being defined. We balance the expectation of being in the office — on average at least three days per week — while respecting individual flexibility. Are you ready to set the AI methodology agenda for BioPharma clinical development at one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies?

Submit your CV and cover letter and let us explore how your expertise can help AstraZeneca harness AI to deliver life-changing medicines to the patients who need them most.We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.

SummaryLocation: Spain - BarcelonaType: Full time

📌 Director, Data Scientist - Clinical AI (Barcelona)
🏢 AstraZeneca
📍 Barcelona