Director, AI Systems Foundations & Reusable Capabilities

Salary Range:

100240.00 - 186160.00

Band

Level 6

Job Description Summary

Director AI Systems Foundations & Reusable Capabilities

#LI-Hybrid

Location: London
Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

The Director AI Systems Foundations & Reusable Capabilities is a senior technical AI leadership role within Data Science & AI responsible for establishing the reusable foundations that enable Development AI systems to be built faster more consistently and with greater technical leverage across Novartis.
The role identifies common technical patterns across AI initiatives and shapes the long-term evolution of Developments AI capability stack across agentic AI retrieval and knowledge systems simulation and digital twins MLOps LLMOps AgentOps and AI lifecycle management. It translates proven architectures components engineering practices and design decisions into reusable AI capabilities that reduce duplication and ensure learning from one system strengthens the next.
This role owns reusable AI system foundations and technical AI capability assets not product roadmaps business adoption portfolio governance infrastructure operations or enterprise architecture. It partners closely with DSAI domain leaders the AI Systems Reliability Director Product teams Strategy & Governance and DDIT to ensure AI capabilities are reusable interoperable technically coherent and continuously improved.

Job Description

Major Accountabilities

AI Foundations & Reference Architectures

• Define reusable architectures design patterns and reference implementations for AI systems across Development.
• Establish common approaches for agentic AI retrieval-augmented generation knowledge systems simulation digital twins and human-in-the-loop AI.
• Provide technical guidance on reuse extension and evolution of AI capabilities.
• Ensure AI systems are designed for modularity interoperability scalability and maintainability.

Reusable AI Capabilities & Engineering Practices

• Build and maintain reusable AI components frameworks templates and capability assets.
• Define AI engineering practices and reference approaches for MLOps LLMOps and AgentOps.
• Establish standards for lifecycle management versioning orchestration observability and technical documentation.
• Identify recurring technical needs and convert them into reusable organizational capabilities.

Capability Scaling & Technical Enablement

• Partner with domain leaders to identify successful patterns that can be reused across Development.
• Translate project-level solutions into reusable architectures components and implementation blueprints.
• Guide AI engineers and data scientists in designing systems that can be reused and extended across domains.
• Promote technical consistency while preserving flexibility for innovation.

Capability Learning & Evolution

• Capture architectural engineering and implementation learnings from AI initiatives and transform them into reusable assets.
• Build mechanisms for sharing AI patterns reference designs and technical best practices across DSAI.
• Partner with the Reliability Director to connect reusable capabilities with evaluation evidence reliability insights and production readiness criteria.
• Continuously evolve the Development AI capability base as technologies and practices mature.

Key Performance Indicators

Percentage of strategic AI systems leveraging reusable AI patterns or reference architectures.

Number of reusable AI capabilities adopted across multiple domains.

Reduction in duplicate technical solutions across the portfolio.

Reduction in time required to build new AI systems through capability reuse.

Number of project learnings converted into reusable capability assets.

Technical satisfaction and adoption of reusable capabilities within DSAI.

Minimum Requirement: Work Experience

10 years leading AI machine learning AI engineering or technical architecture initiatives.

Demonstrated experience designing reusable AI architectures platforms frameworks or technical capabilities.

Deep expertise in modern AI systems including LLMs RAG agentic systems orchestration and AI lifecycle management.

Experience translating prototypes and local solutions into scalable reusable capabilities.

Experience leading senior technical teams in complex environments.

Healthcare life sciences or regulated industry experience preferred.

Rewards

At Novartiswerecommitted to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and also offer a variety of competitive benefits inkindto help you thrive personally and professionally such as insurance plans retirement plans wellbeingresourcesand global recognition addition we provide flexible and hybrid working options where possible anda minimum of14 weekspaid parental leave.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role:

• UK: 100240.00 - 186160.00 GBP Annual

The salary offered isdeterminedbased on gender-neutralobjectives such as relevant skillscompetenciesand experiencein accordance withthe Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. Further details will be provided during the application process.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverseequitableand inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Readourbrochureto learn more about our global total rewards offering: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity will be communicated separately to you during the applicationprocess.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO paragraph:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding inclusive work environment and diverseteamsrepresentativeof the patients and communities we serve.

Why Novartis:Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart passionate people like you. Collaboratingsupportingand inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients lives. Ready to create a brighter future together Desired

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