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AI Research Lead, AI for Oncology Clinical Development

On-site in Barcelona·Full-time·Added 5 days ago

AstraZeneca

40 open roles

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Overview

Job details

Full-time hours
Per the ad.

Requirements

Have the right to work in Spain
AstraZeneca doesn't mention sponsorship in the ad.
Work in English
English is required, per the ad.
Work on-site in Barcelona
No relocation package mentioned.
Have 2+ years of experience
Mid-level role.
Doctorate
“PhD in a quantitative discipline such as computer science, bioinformatics, computational biology, mathematics, physics, biophysics, computational neuroscience, biostatistics” — per the ad.

Requirements

What we're looking for

PhD in a quantitative discipline such as computer science, bioinformatics, computational biology, mathematics, physics, biophysics, computational neuroscience, biostatistics
2-5 years' work experience outside of PhD with measurable impact (e.g. models delivered, patents, SaMD filings, first-author publications, open-source projects, standards-body participation)
Exceptional software development and coding skills, leveraging frontier coding agent frameworks; knowledge of computing hardware a plus
Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals, with domain expertise in one or more of the following
Training and tuning foundation models.
Bayesian inference
Temporal modeling
Multimodal integration and modeling
Model calibration and domain adaptation
Data-centric AI: acquiring, creating, and curating datasets for model training / post-training / benchmarking / evals
Model and data evaluations and benchmarking
Model interpretability
Model post-training and alignment

Nice to have

Desirable Skills/Experience

Deep expertise in cancer biology
Experience working with biological data such as molecular (e.g. DNA, RNA, protein), imaging (radiology, microscopy), or clinical text (e.g. EHR, clinical notes)
Experience in drug development including but not limited to clinical trial design, biomarker discovery, companion diagnostics, dosing, safety, endpoints, and regulatory
Experience in a matrixed global organization spanning multiple sites and therapy areas
Strong proficiency in augmenting but not supplanting daily knowledge work with agentic tools
Team-oriented mindset
Ability to proactively and independently deliver high-quality contributions at pace
Up-to-date with the latest AI research and tools, proactively trying out those of interest, and ability to discern hype from true added value
Comfort with ambiguity and a mindset to learn in public, prototype early, and fail forward

The role

Are you ready to harness advanced AI to redesign how oncology trials are conceived, executed, and learned from? In this Associate Director role, you will lead high-impact AI research and engineering that reduces patient burden, increases trial efficiency, and sharpens decision-making in late-stage development. Your work will directly influence study design, dosing strategies, endpoints, and safety evaluations, accelerating the delivery of safe, effective medicines to people with cancer.

You will operate at the intersection of AI, clinical science, and cancer biology, partnering across hematology, cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, small molecules, and biologics. Based in Barcelona, you will collaborate with global teams to define the questions that matter most, build models that answer them, and translate those models into clinical and regulatory realities. What could you achieve if your models were deployed where decisions are made?

What you'll do

AI Strategy and Roadmap: Co-own and evolve the AI strategy for early and late-phase oncology clinical development, aligning investments to the highest-value opportunities and setting a clear path from research to adoption
Technical Leadership: Serve as the principal technical lead within matrixed teams, delivering complex, high-stakes AI programs on time and to a standard that withstands scientific and regulatory scrutiny
Method Innovation: Evaluate and develop cutting-edge AI methods across problem framing, data readiness, governance, algorithm development, validation, and deployment; select the right tool for the right question
Clinical Partnership: Partner with clinical development, biometrics, regulatory, and study teams to embed novel AI solutions into study design, operational execution, portfolio strategy, and go/no-go decision-making
Evidence and Validation: Design rigorous evaluation frameworks, benchmarking protocols, and calibration plans to ensure models are reliable, interpretable, and fit for purpose in real-world clinical contexts
External Ecosystem: Build and maintain collaborations with leading academic groups, technology partners, and industry consortia to access novel capabilities and shape standards that matter to oncology development
Scientific Leadership: Represent AstraZeneca at scientific conferences and standards bodies; author first- or last-author publications in leading ML and clinical AI journals to advance the field and our influence
Team Development: Mentor and support peers, fostering a culture of curiosity, pragmatic engineering, fast prototyping, and learning in public
Impact Progression: Deliver near-term wins by solving defined study and program needs; scale insights into reusable platforms and playbooks that raise the bar across the portfolio

How you'll work

This is an in-office role based in Barcelona, ES, with a requirement to work a minimum of three days per week on-site. Remote or travel flexibility is not available.

Hiring process

2 steps1 interviewa task to do

Application
Recruiter contact · With a recruiter
Assessment
Not every role
Some roles, especially graduate roles, add a game-based assessment, a video or telephone interview, or an assessment day.
Interview
A two-way conversation about your skills and suitability for the role, and a chance for you to find out if AstraZeneca is right for you.
Pre-employment screening
Offer

Candidates who reach interview stage or beyond usually get feedback within 14 days of the role's closing date.
Interview travel expenses are reimbursed for journeys over 100km.
Alcohol and drug testing is carried out for new hires where required by local country legislation.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes prescription medicines in therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolism, and respiratory and immunology. With a workforce of over 80,000 employees worldwide, the company is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and operates across more than 100 countries, focusing on innovative medicines and advanced technologies like AI and data science to transform patient care.

In Spain, AstraZeneca has a significant presence with offices in Madrid and Barcelona, contributing to clinical development, regulatory affairs, and commercial operations. The company is known for its collaborative and inclusive culture, offering international professionals opportunities to work on global projects, particularly in areas like cell therapy, AI-driven health solutions (Evinova), and patient safety. With a strong commitment to diversity and innovation, AstraZeneca Spain is an attractive destination for talent seeking to make a global impact while living in Spain.

Industry: Pharma
Founded: 1999
Employees: 10,000+
Headquarters: Cambridge, UK
In Spain: Madrid, Barcelona
Website: astrazeneca.es

Good to know if you are moving

AstraZeneca offers a global, multicultural work environment with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the world.
The company has a strong commitment to employee development and offers various career growth programs.
Spain offices are located in major cities like Madrid and Barcelona, offering a high quality of life and vibrant culture.
AstraZeneca is a leader in innovative therapies, providing employees with the chance to work on cutting-edge medical advancements.
The company supports flexible working arrangements and promotes a healthy work-life balance.

In their own words

About the company & team

Join a company where digital and data are embedded across the full journey from discovery to the clinic, and where AI is used to make trials smarter, faster, and kinder to patients. You will work with clinicians, statisticians, engineers, and product leaders in the same room, turning bold ideas into systems that influence pivotal studies. We value kindness alongside ambition, back experimentation with resources and governance, and equip you with modern tools to push the boundaries of what clinical AI can do. Your contribution will not sit on a shelf; it will inform real decisions, shape a next-generation pipeline, and help reimagine how care reaches patients.

Additional information

28-sept-2026

11-oct-2026

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 authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

All open roles at AstraZeneca