Director/Senior Director, AI/ML for Drug Discovery

Job overview

The Director/Senior Director, AI/ML for Drug Discovery role is onsite in South San Francisco, CA, with an anticipated annual salary range of $240,000–$300,000. The role leads Septerna’s Data Science function at a biotechnology company developing GPCR-focused medicines. The leader builds and executes the AI/ML strategy for using proprietary structural and assay data in small-molecule discovery. By guiding the team, advancing computational methods and data workflows, and partnering with research groups, the role aims to accelerate hypothesis generation and scientific discovery.

What you'll do

• Lead and develop the Data Science team
• create a roadmap for AI/ML applications using GPCR structural data
• identify and integrate emerging technologies
• oversee DNA-encoded library, high-throughput screening, and assay-data workflows
• advance ML-QSAR models using assay and ADMET data
• refine data engineering and cloud infrastructure
• establish data-curation and model-validation practices
• collaborate with Computational Chemistry, Structural Biology, and other research teams.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

ai/ml drug discovery

director/senior director

south san francisco ca

septerna

data science

machine learning

gpcr

small-molecule discovery

computational chemistry

drug discovery

$240k–$300k/year

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

Why this role

Requires a PhD in a relevant computational or quantitative field focused on biological systems and 10+ years of relevant industry experience. Technical areas include scientific machine learning, drug discovery, cloud and distributed computing, and MLOps.

About the employer

Septerna is hiring for this role. Industry: Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology). Sector: 54.