Job Details

Senior Director, AI Acceleration (AIx)

  2026-04-02     Gilead     San Mateo,CA  
Description:

Senior Director of AIx (AI Accelerator)

The Senior Director of AIx (AI Accelerator) is a critical leadership role based in Foster City, CA within Team ARC (AI Research Center), part of the Clinical Data Science (CDS) organization in the Drug Development division led by the Chief Medical Officer. This position is responsible for driving innovation and delivering scalable, production-ready AI solutions to accelerate drug development, improve operational workflows, and create measurable business value.

The Senior Director will oversee the AIx team, focusing on building cutting-edge capabilities, evaluating and integrating emerging technologies, and ensuring seamless collaboration with ARC's other teams such as Product Management & Experiences (PMx), Business Delivery Excellence (BDx) and Enterprise AI & Governance Excellence (EAGx) as well as key stakeholders across Gilead. This role requires deep technical expertise, exceptional leadership skills, and the ability to align AI initiatives with organizational goals.

As the Senior Director of AIx, you will:

  • Define and execute the strategic vision and roadmap for AIx, ensuring alignment with ARC's mission and Gilead's enterprise objectives.
  • Lead the development, deployment, and scaling of AI capabilities tailored to clinical, operational, and enterprise needs.
  • Oversee technology assessments and the introduction of new tools and platforms to maintain Gilead's competitive edge in AI.
  • Collaborate closely with PMx and BDx to ensure AIx capabilities are integrated into operational workflows and aligned with stakeholder needs.
  • Build and mentor a high-performing team of data scientists, engineers, and technical experts, fostering innovation and accountability.
  • Engage with cross-functional leaders to ensure AIx delivers measurable value, particularly in therapeutic areas, clinical studies, regulatory processes, and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop and communicate a cohesive strategy for AIx that aligns with Gilead's priorities and industry trends.
  • Provide thought leadership on emerging AI/ML technologies and their potential impact on drug development and enterprise operations.
  • Define success metrics and monitor the impact of AIx initiatives on organizational goals.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree with 14+ years of experience, Master's degree with 13+ years, or Ph.D. with 12+ years in Data Science, Computer Science, AI/ML, or related fields.
  • Proven track record of leading AI/ML strategies, teams, and large-scale projects in complex environments.
  • Strong knowledge of AI/ML technologies, including Generative AI, LLMs, and advanced analytics.
  • Extensive experience with MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-based AI infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure).
  • Demonstrated success in managing multidisciplinary teams and mentoring technical leaders.
  • Proven ability to align technical strategies with business goals and communicate complex concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Strong track record of driving organizational change and delivering measurable outcomes through AI initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industry, with knowledge of clinical trial processes and regulatory compliance.
  • Successful collaboration with academia, startups, or industry thought leaders to advance AI innovation.
  • Contributions to open-source AI/ML tools or peer-reviewed publications.
  • Expertise in integrating AI into operational workflows across therapeutic areas, regulatory functions, and enterprise systems.

Key Skills for Success:

  • Strategic Vision: Ability to define and execute a long-term strategy for AI adoption and innovation.
  • Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of AI/ML technologies and their practical applications in drug development and enterprise operations.
  • Collaboration: Exceptional ability to foster alignment across technical and business domains, engaging diverse stakeholders.
  • Execution Excellence: Proven ability to manage complex projects, deliver high-impact solutions, and scale AI innovations effectively.
  • Communication: Outstanding ability to articulate technical strategies and influence senior leaders.

The salary range for this position is: $243,100.00 - $314,600.00. Gilead considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

Gilead Sciences Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

Gilead provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.


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