Director of Data Science & AI

Job Title: Director of Data Science & AI – Evinova

Location:  London

Salary:  Competitive

Introduction to role

Are you ready to be part of the future of healthcare? Can you think big, be bold, and harness the power of data and AI to tackle longstanding life sciences challenges? Then Evinova, a new health tech separate business within the AstraZeneca Group, might be for you!

The Human-centered AI team at Evinova aims to transform the patient experience and clinical trial process by embedding data science and AI in digital solutions serving clinical trials. We are looking for talented individuals to develop ideas into impactful product capabilities that make a difference to patients.

Evinova delivers market-leading digital health solutions that are science-based, evidence-led, and human experience-driven. Thoughtful risks and quick decisions come together to accelerate innovation across the life sciences sector. Be part of a diverse team that pushes the boundaries of science by digitally empowering a deeper understanding of the patients we help. Launch pioneering digital solutions that improve the patients’ experience and deliver better health outcomes. Together, we have the opportunity to combine deep scientific expertise with digital and artificial intelligence to serve the wider healthcare community and create new standards across the sector.

The team is looking for a Director of Data Science& AI to lead machine learning and genAI projects, and develop innovative cross-product AI capabilities. The role is a technical expert driving hands-on development from prototyping to supporting production systems. The role will focus on the design of complex AI agents, communication architectures for agents, and developing automated techniques for designing and evaluating agentic systems. The role will interact with product, design, engineering, MLOps, and subject matter experts and stakeholders.

Examples of projects the team works on include genAI search services, agentic document generation, algorithmic insight generation, optimization, high-frequency and high-dimensional clinical data modelling, clinical trial prediction, and much more!

Accountabilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced agentic AI applications tailored to life sciences/health tech challenges.

• Develop automated techniques for designing and evaluating agentic systems.

• Ideate, develop, and evaluate different tools for agents (e.g., search, memory, context compression, communication architectures for agents).

• Design specialized agent/LLM observability pipelines for prototypes and production systems.

• Mentor and develop the technical capabilities of the AI team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

• Lead a portfolio of high-impact AI projects. Drive technical and project-level architecture decisions, guiding cross-functional teams through stages of the AI lifecycle.

• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment to align AI initiatives with business objectives and drive digital transformation.

• Represent the company's AI expertise at conferences, publications, and industry events.

Essential Skills/Experience

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (such as mathematics, computer science, data science) or equivalent experience.

• 6+ years of industry experience in applied machine learning, with a strong focus on agentic and generative AI.

• Proven track record of developing creative and novel AI solutions that have driven significant business impact.

• Extensive prior experience exploring and testing language model behavior, prompting and building products with language models.

• Expert knowledge of Python and advanced ML/LLM frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, LangChain, LlamaIndex).

• Strong expertise in Python testing frameworks (pytest, unittest, mock).

• Extensive experience with AWS services (e.g., SageMaker, Bedrock, MSK, EKS, OpenSearch).

• Deep understanding of agentic AI concepts and frameworks (e.g., agentic design patterns, multi-agent systems, reinforcement learning) and their applications in healthcare.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience presenting to executive leadership and stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• AWS Machine Learning Engineer or AWS Solution Architect certification.

• TypeScript or a similar strongly-typed programming language experience.

• Data visualization expertise.

• Experience with real-time data processing and streaming.

• Performance testing experience with data-intensive applications.

• Front-end development familiarity.

• Knowledge of healthcare AI/ML regulatory requirements.

• Knowledge of drug development and previous experience working in the pharmaceutical industry.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca is where innovation meets impact! Our dynamic fields of medicine, science, and technology are always evolving. We embrace change by harnessing digital tools to reimagine healthcare delivery beyond core medical practices. With an agile mindset supported by leading pharmaceutical resources, we empower our teams to think critically and creatively. Here you'll find a collaborative culture that encourages lifelong learning while making a global impact. Join us as we redefine patient experiences through technology-driven solutions!

SO, WHAT’S NEXT?

We welcome your application no later than 31st  October 2025

Where can I find out more?

Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply today and join us in our mission to improve global public health!

Date Posted

24-Oct-2025

Closing Date

31-Oct-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.