Senior Data Innovation Specialist (RWD)
Roche
Summary
The Senior Data Innovation Specialist (RWD) helps identify, prototype, and scale novel methods and technologies that transform how data is used across product development. Reporting to the Data Innovation Lead, you will drive emerging capabilities such as agentic AI, semantic integration, and knowledge graphs to unlock new use cases for clinical, real-world, and operational data. You will design and build AI-enabled tools and agentic workflows that transform how RWD analyses are performed, developing reusable analytical components, enabling models and agents to interact with data and tools, automating parts of scientific workflows, and creating scalable solutions adopted across projects and teams. You will collaborate with scientists, engineers, product teams, and external partners to design proof-of-concepts, validate innovative solutions, and assess long-term feasibility.
Job description
Responsibilities
- Drive Innovation: Apply specialized knowledge of emerging data types, technologies, and methods to lead innovation activities and complex analytical projects.
- Collaborative Piloting: Partner with cross-functional teams to pilot data innovations and integrate them into clinical development and data science workflows.
- Platform Development: Design, build, and evaluate agentic workflows that enable models to use tools, access data, execute analytical tasks, and support scientific decision-making while maintaining scientific rigor, traceability, and human oversight.
- Strategic Evaluation: Proactively identify innovation areas through competitive landscaping and evaluate the feasibility and quality of unconventional data sources.
- Framework Creation: Develop tools and frameworks that support the scalable evaluation, reuse, and streamlining of experimental data approaches and workflows.
- Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as an expert on innovation methodology, guiding peers through new data modalities and mentoring junior team members.
- Compliance & Governance: Ensure all activities maintain strict compliance with data privacy and security regulations, including HIPAA and GDPR.
Qualifications
- Educational Background: Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Data Science, or a related field.
- Proven Experience: 5+ years of experience in data science or healthcare innovation, with a track record of implementing successful AI-driven pilots or products.
- Strategic Agility: Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to make independent decisions based on sound principles.
- Innovation Mindset: Familiarity with agile, product-thinking, and innovation frameworks such as Lean Startup or Design Thinking.
- Agentic AI: Hands-on experience designing and building production-oriented AI agents or agentic systems, including tool/function calling, retrieval, structured outputs, routing or orchestration, and multi-step or multi-agent workflows.
- Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and deep respect for cultural differences in a global workplace.
Preferred
- Exposure to real-world data or research informatics in a biomedical setting.
- Interest in emerging technologies such as machine learning, knowledge graphs, or clinical AI.
- Ability to summarize results for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Requirements
- Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Data Science, or a related field
- 5+ years of experience in data science or healthcare innovation
- Track record of implementing successful AI-driven pilots or products
- Hands-on experience designing and building production-oriented AI agents or agentic systems
- Experience with tool/function calling, retrieval, structured outputs, routing or orchestration, and multi-step or multi-agent workflows
- Familiarity with agile, product-thinking, and innovation frameworks such as Lean Startup or Design Thinking
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Compliance with data privacy and security regulations including HIPAA and GDPR
Benefits
- Discretionary annual bonus
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- 401(k)
Company overview
Roche is a Swiss multinational healthcare company and a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, founded in 1896 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. As the world's largest biotech company and the fifth-largest pharmaceutical company by revenue, Roche operates through two primary divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. The company is renowned for its leadership in personalized healthcare, combining strengths in both drug development and diagnostic testing to deliver tailored treatments for patients. Roche maintains a strong focus on oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, and central nervous system disorders, with a portfolio that includes over 30 medicines on the World Health Organization's Model Lists of Essential Medicines. The company owns significant subsidiaries including Genentech, Chugai Pharmaceuticals, Ventana Medical Systems, and Foundation Medicine. With approximately 103,000 employees worldwide and operations in over 100 countries, Roche has established itself as a leader in cancer treatments globally while maintaining a robust pipeline of innovative therapies and diagnostic solutions. The company's commitment to sustainability has been recognized through ten consecutive years as Group Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry.