Principal Scientist, Machine Learning

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche.

The Swiss Machine Learning (ML) group within Prescient Design / (MLDD - Machine Learning for Drug Discovery) in Roche/Genentech seeks exceptional researchers who have a demonstrated research background in machine learning, a passion for independent research and technical problem-solving, and a proven ability to develop and implement ideas from research.

The group provides a dynamic and challenging environment for cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research including access to heterogeneous data sources, close links to top academic institutions around the world, as well as internal Genentech Research and Early Development (gRED) and Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development (pRED) partners and research units.

We are looking for talented Principal Scientists to join Prescient Design/MLDD, a division devoted to developing structural and machine learning based methods for protein design within Genentech’s Computational Sciences (gCS) department. The successful candidate will lead a group of AI/ML scientists working on cross-functional projects, partner with biologists, technologists and drug discoverers to develop new machine learning methods for protein design with special application to protein therapeutics.

The Opportunity

• You will assume a hands-on leadership role to lead a group of talented AI/ML scientists located in Basel and hosted by Roche.

• You will be expected to form close working relationships with protein therapeutic development efforts across the pRED and gRED organizations. 

• ​​You will develop cutting edge machine learning methods for the analysis of biological data and processes which can be represented as graphs or sequences, with focus on structural biology data and chemical molecules.

• Publish high quality impactful scientific articles and present at conferences, business meetings and academic institutions.

• Deliver deep learning based software solutions for accelerating drug discovery, design, and therapeutic development. 

• Develop the team's culture. Write structured, tested, readable and maintainable code.

• Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and distribute knowledge.

Who you are:

• Possess a PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics) with a record of impactful scientific publications.

• Over 6 years of experience in designing and training machine learning models on large, complex, and/or biased datasets, preferably with biochemical data.

• Demonstrated expertise in modern machine learning techniques, including neural networks on graphs or sequence models, and proficiency with Python and a deep learning framework (e.g., TensorFlow-Keras, PyTorch, JAX).

• Proven track record of leading and executing high-profile cross-functional projects to completion.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with proficiency in English, both written and verbal.

Unwavering focus, collaborative teamwork and exceptional delivery are key behaviors that drive our mission of doing now what patients need next. Together, we can be transformative.

If you are passionate about contributing to a committed team and have the dedication to partnership and innovation, Roche is the place for you! Every role at Roche plays a part in making a difference in patients’ lives. Apply now and join us in making an impact!

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.