Director, AI Engineering--Clinical Development and Operations (CD&O)
- Europe - Any Pfizer Site
- Belgium - Zaventem
- United States - Massachusetts - Cambridge
- Greece-Thessaloniki Chortiatis
- United States - New York - New York City
POSITION SUMMARY
In this “hands-on” position, you will design, build, and deploy production-grade AI systems that will power enterprise-scale capabilities across the Clinical Development & Operations organization. This is a high-impact role for a builder who thrives on solving real-world business problems in a complex, data-rich, and regulated environment. You will be instrumental in advancing the practical application of LLMs and agentic AI by identifying high-value use cases, developing reusable workflows, and partnering with stakeholders to drive adoption and impact. Combining deep expertise in software engineering and machine learning, you will take solutions from prototype to production, embedding MLOps best practices to ensure they are reliable, scalable, and reproducible. You will drive business transformation through proactive thought-leadership, innovative analytical capabilities, and the ability to communicate highly complex information in new and creative ways.
WHAT YOU"LL DO
Develop and Implement AI Solutions
Build and deploy AI/ML models and solutions that support process-heavy workflows (e.g. protocol feasibility and site selection, study start-up etc.) including documentation, and operational reporting.
Contribute to the automation of manual and repetitive activities to improve speed, quality, and consistency.
Strengthen Operational Decision-Making
Develop predictive, optimization, and scenario-based models to support clinical trial supply forecasting and operational planning.
Create and maintain dashboards and decision-support tools that translate complex data into actionable insights for CD&O leadership and operational teams.
Engineer Production-Grade AI Systems
Implement AI solutions that are aligned with data integrity standards and governance best practices, including model validation, versioning, and monitoring.
Design and implement AI agentic solutions that can plan and execute multi-step workflows.
Build robust, production-ready ML and analytics pipelines with a focus on reproducibility and scalability.
Deploy AI solutions in cloud environments, ensuring reliability, security, and seamless integration with existing systems.
Collaborate Across Disciplines
Partner closely with CD&O line teams, scientists, and Digital partners to ensure that AI efforts remain tightly aligned to real scientific needs and can be deployed in ways that are trusted, scalable, and adopted in day-to-day work.
Champion best practices in AI engineering system lifecycle.
BASIC MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Engineering, AI, or a related discipline and a minimum of 5 years of applied analytical experience with demonstrated impact in operations, automation, business analytics, or decision support OR
Master’s in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, Software Engineering, AI, or a related discipline and a minimum of 7 years of applied analytical experience with demonstrated impact in operations, automation, business analytics, or decision support.
Strong hands-on experience applying LLMs, generative AI, machine learning, or related AI approaches to real-world workflows, products, or analytical use cases, ideally within R&D, clinical operations or large-scale regulated organizations.
Experience building practical, reusable workflows or systems rather than one-off analyses, with strong implementation skills in Python and modern AI / ML tooling.
Sound judgment regarding methodological rigor, model limitations, evaluation, and the appropriate role of human oversight in AI-enabled workflows.
Experience working directly with domain users or stakeholders to translate ambiguous needs into useful technical solutions, with evidence of strong collaboration and communication skills.
TECHNICAL SKILLSET
AI Engineering/ Framework: Strong hands‑on experience with Python building ML/DL with libraries (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, Scikit-learn), and LLM‑based systems and agentic frameworks including RAG architectures, prompt engineering, embeddings, fine‑tuning, evaluation and orchestration (e.g. ADK, LangChain, LangGraph, Vertex AI, Claude).
Software & Data Engineering/ Framework: Experience with Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, React, FastAPI, SQL/PostgreSQL, Snowflake, S3, and enterprise data and knowledge systems (e.g. BigQuery, Neo4j).
Cloud, DevOps & MLOps: Proficient with Git, Docker, CI/CD, and cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure), with a strong focus on reproducibility, deployment, monitoring, and production‑ready MLOps.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in life sciences, pharma, biotech, systems biology, immunology, translational science, omics, or related research environments.
Experience operating across scientific and technical disciplines, with enough domain fluency to engage credibly with scientists while still bringing a strong applied-AI builder mindset.
Work Location Assignment: This is a hybrid role requiring you to live within commuting distance and work on-site an average of 2.5 days per week.
Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.
NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS
Occasional travel may be required to collaborate with colleagues across Pfizer sites, participate in workshops, support adoption activities, or engage with internal and external partners.
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email disabilityrecruitment@pfizer.com. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.
Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives
Research confirms what intuition tells us: that purpose-driven companies perform better, are more innovative, attract and retain the best people, and know how to unleash the power of those people. Pfizer’s purpose—Breakthroughs that change patients' lives—fuels everything we do and reflects our passion for building on our legacy as one of the greatest contributors of good to the world.
Each word in our purpose has meaning and reflects the value we strive to bring to patients and society:
“Breakthroughs” - These are the innovations, scientific and commercial, that we seek to deliver every day. All colleagues, regardless of role, level or location, strive for breakthroughs every day.
“Change” - We want to do more than simply improve patients’ medical conditions; we want to dramatically change their lives for the better.
“Patients’ lives” - We consider not only patients, but everyone they touch—including their families, caregivers, and friends—and everything they love to do. It’s an intentionally holistic view.
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Every decision we make and every action we take is done with the patient in mind—and to nurture an environment where breakthroughs can thrive.
Our Values
To fully realize Pfizer’s purpose, we have established a clear set of expectations regarding “what” we need to achieve for patients and “how” we will go about achieving those goals.
The “how” is represented by four simple, powerful values—courage, excellence, equity, and joy—that define our company and our culture.
Courage: Breakthroughs start by challenging convention, especially in the face of uncertainty or adversity. This happens when we think big, speak up, and are decisive.
Excellence: We can only change patients’ lives when we perform at our best together. This happens when we focus on what matters, agree who does what, and measure our outcomes.
Equity: We believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity, and reduce healthcare disparities.
Joy: We give ourselves to our work, but it also gives to us. We find joy when we take pride, recognize one another, and have fun.
Pfizer Research & Development
Pfizer Research & Development serves as the beating heart of Pfizer's trailblazing product pipeline, the essence of our mission to bring life-changing medicines to the world.
With an unwavering commitment to innovation, we use a multidisciplinary approach that blends scientific expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and strategic collaborations, igniting a powerful engine that propels groundbreaking discoveries into life-saving treatments for patients in need.
Through our relentless pursuit of progress, we envision a future where cutting-edge medicines pave the way to healthier, happier lives worldwide.
Benefits at Pfizer
Pfizer offers competitive compensation and benefits programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our colleagues. Our Pay for Performance Philosophy and Practices reward colleagues based on the contributions they make to our business.
Our Competitive Benefits Programs help our colleagues by:
- Promoting Health and Wellness to help colleagues maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Pfizer offerings include health and disability insurance, preventative health programs, medical screenings, free or reduced-cost vaccinations, discounts on Pfizer products, mental health support, nutrition and fitness counseling and more.
- Strengthening Colleagues’ Financial Security by providing company contributions to retirement plans, life insurance and financial planning education to help colleagues achieve their financial goals.
- Providing Benefits and Time off for the Moments that Matter to ensure Pfizer colleagues have the time away from the office to recharge, recover and return to work as the best version of themselves. Vacation, Holiday time and Sick time are just the beginning, with a 12 week parental leave policy for both parents of a new born, 10 day of caregiver leave for those times when your family needs you whether it’s a child, spouse or parent, bereavement leave, and additional country-specific programs.
- And so much more, depending on your country and site, Pfizer offers childcare facilities or discount programs, on-site health and/or fitness centers, movement and mindfulness solutions, “Log in for your Day” work flexibility and so much more.
For U.S. based jobs, view an overview of Pfizer’s U.S. benefits program (opens in a new window)