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- Tasks: Lead AI-driven drug development projects and collaborate across scientific teams.
- Company: Join AstraZeneca, a leader in life-changing medicines and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Transform the future of medicine using cutting-edge AI technologies.
- Qualifications: PhD in natural sciences and experience in drug design or development.
- Other info: Flexible working with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Do you have the expertise and passion to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for drug development in the pharmaceutical industry? Join AstraZeneca and use your expertise to implement ground-breaking methodologies, accelerate digital innovation, and help deliver life-changing medicines to patients worldwide. This isn’t just a role, it’s your opportunity to transform the future of medicine and improve millions of lives.
We are seeking a Principal AI Scientist to join our team in Cambridge or Macclesfield, UK. This role is at the heart of driving agentic AI and cross-departmental digital transformation within Pharmaceutical Sciences. The ideal candidate will have experience deploying graph-based deep learning and/or agentic AI systems in chemistry, drug delivery and formulation science and will be skilled at harnessing and connecting scientific knowledge from complex data.
You’ll leverage your expertise to develop and lead efforts in implementing agentic AI solutions into predict-first driven drug development workflows, bridge experimental and data science, and collaborate with automation specialists to implement self-learning lab concepts. You will help shape our approach to leveraging AI models, design orchestration and prompt engineering strategies, and collaborate to stay at the forefront of fundamental AI developments.
Your core responsibilities:
- Lead the design and implementation of agentic AI systems to facilitate scientific discovery and drive productivity.
- Deliver agentic AI and generative AI-based solutions for drug development tasks.
- Embed within and collaborate across scientific, digitisation, and IT teams to ensure AI-driven solutions are impactful and well-integrated into current workflows.
- Represent the group internally and externally, sharing insights on deploying agentic AI to unlock data-driven value within R&D.
- Foster a scientific culture that connects lab innovation with advanced computational methods, leading to a predict-first mindset in early drug development.
- Collaborate internally and externally to pursue the development of foundation models for Chemistry, Manufacturing and Control (CMC).
Essential requirements for the role:
- PhD in natural sciences
- Several years of industrial experience in drug design, pharmaceutical chemistry, or drug development
- Expert knowledge in using generative AI applied to drug design and development (e.g., Graph ML and representation learning; agentic AI and orchestration; scientific data integration)
- Domain knowledge in computational chemistry, chemical informatics, and/or laboratory and data workflows (preferred)
- Excellent communication skills, written and spoken; self-motivated team player
- Experience in project leadership
- Demonstrated system-level design and platform thinking
- Demonstrated external reputation (e.g., via internationally recognised publication track record)
At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines and strive to meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big, and working together to make the impossible a reality. The work aims to impact patients globally and advance scientific progress.
Location: Cambridge or Macclesfield, UK
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits
Are you ready to join us? Please apply with your CV and cover letter no later than 15 February 2026.
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates perform at their best.
Experienced Principal AI Scientist in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences in Cambridge employer: AstraZeneca
Contact Detail:
AstraZeneca Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Experienced Principal AI Scientist in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the pharmaceutical and AI fields on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research AstraZeneca’s latest projects and innovations in AI and drug development. We want to see your passion and knowledge shine through. Practice common interview questions and think about how your experience aligns with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your previous work in AI and drug development. We love seeing real examples of your skills in action, so make sure to include any successful projects or publications.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, keep an eye on our social media for updates and insights into the company culture. We’re excited to see your application!
We think you need these skills to ace Experienced Principal AI Scientist in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience in AI and drug development. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing your relevant projects and achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about using AI in pharmaceuticals and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our team. Let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, make sure your application reflects that. Use clear and concise language, and don’t forget to proofread for any typos or errors. We love attention to detail!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at AstraZeneca
✨Know Your AI Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest advancements in agentic AI and generative AI, especially as they relate to drug development. Brush up on your knowledge of graph-based deep learning and how it applies to pharmaceutical sciences, as this will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working across various teams, be prepared to discuss your experience in collaborative projects. Highlight specific examples where you’ve successfully bridged gaps between scientific and IT teams, and how that led to impactful AI-driven solutions.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect to face technical questions that assess your understanding of computational chemistry and data workflows. Practise explaining complex concepts in a simple way, as communication skills are key. You might even want to prepare a mini-presentation on a relevant project you’ve worked on.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Innovation
AstraZeneca is looking for someone who is not just skilled but also passionate about transforming medicine through AI. Be ready to share your vision for how AI can revolutionise drug development and any innovative ideas you have that could contribute to their mission.
