Head of Automation Science & Technology, Autonomous Lab Accelerator

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Advances in AI, data, and computational sciences are transforming drug discovery and development. Roche’s Research and Early Development organisations at Genentech (gRED) and Pharma (pRED) have demonstrated how these technologies accelerate R&D, leveraging data and novel computational models to drive impact. Seamless data sharing and access to models across gRED and pRED are essential to maximising these opportunities. The new Computational Sciences Center of Excellence (CoE) is a strategic, unified group whose goal is to harness the transformative power of data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist our scientists in both pRED and gRED to deliver more innovative and transformative medicines for patients worldwide.

The Opportunity

The single automation strategy and implementation leader responsible for defining and driving the automation, robotics, and autonomous experimentation strategy across the Roche Autonomous Lab Accelerator programs, in partnership w/ gRED, pRED and PT laboratory science teams. 

Sets the multi-year vision, prioritizes automation workstreams, and directly informs senior leadership's budgetary decisions in alignment with organizational priorities.  The role bridges wet-lab execution with dry-lab design and analysis to build a closed-loop, autonomous "lab-in-the-loop" (LiTL) across the Design–Make–Test–Analyze (DMTA) cycle. 

This role is a direct enabler of gRED, pRED and PT objectives to transform drug discovery through full implementation of Lab-in-the-Loop, embedding data, AI, and experimentation to systematically improve speed, confidence, and probability of success. In support of the push toward Foundational Data for Foundational Models (FDFM), the role ensures automation and informatics are tightly integrated to generate the high-quality, structured datasets required to train and scale the discovery-enabling models used to predict and design next-generation therapeutics. 

Leads a small dedicated team and partners with scientific subject matter experts, computational sciences, informatics, and external vendors to define, build, validate, and scale automated workflows.

In this role, you will:

Strategic Alignment w/ pharma REDs and PT objectives

• Full implementation of Lab-in-the-Loop: Provide the automation backbone to embed LiTL across pharma REDs and PT so AI and experimentation systematically improve speed, confidence, and PTS.

• Foundational data & discovery-enabling models: Deliver the clean, standardized, scaled datasets via integrated automation and informatics, to enable foundational data and discovery-enabling models.

• Agent-enabled predictive insights: Generate the high-quality experimental data that feeds agent-enabled predictive insights informing target validation decisions.

• Operational excellence & scale: Support automation and rollout of priority processes using AI and digital solutions, reduce operational friction, and improve cost efficiency and cycle time through technology-enabled ways of working.

• EverydayAI & high-performing organization: Champion adoption of AI tools and practices with measurable impact within Drug Discovery automation workstreams.

• Aligning with R&D Excellence goals: Building and supporting AI/ML models for antibody generation, optimization, and LM-transition decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Prioritization: Own the multi-year automation and autonomous experimentation strategy, implementation and sandbox lab operations; prioritize ongoing and planned workstreams across pharma REDs and PT.

• Budget Influence & Financial Planning: Directly inform senior leadership budgetary decisions; build long-term spend models balancing fixed capital vs. lease/license; lead vendor negotiations and own vs. lease vs. license decisions; support objectives of improving cost efficiency through technology-enabled ways of working.

• Lab-in-the-Loop: Architect the closed-loop autonomous capability; partner with Computational Sciences to coordinate dry-lab with wet-lab execution, instrument control and cross-device workflow orchestration.

• Data & Model Generation for Therapeutic Discovery: Ensure automation and informatics jointly deliver clean, structured, well-annotated datasets at scale to enable foundational and discovery-enabling models that predict and design next-generation therapeutics.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Map existing workflows across functions, highlight overlaps, prioritize shared vs. bespoke capabilities, and set pharma RED and PT-wide automation science and technology standards for R&D labs.

• Technology & Vendor Evaluation: Assess existing vs. emerging technologies in the Accelerator sandbox; scope, evaluate, and validate external hardware/software; shape commercial agreements.

• Team Leadership: Lead and develop a team of automation specialists, with planned expansion; partner with SMEs to define automation end goals and validate workflows.

• External Leadership: Represent Roche/Genentech in the external automation community and maintain a thought-leadership presence.

Key Deliverables

• Endorsed multi-year automation and autonomous experimentation strategy, explicitly mapped to the Lab-in-the-Loop and operational excellence objectives.

• Integrated automation–informatics data pipeline delivering clean, model-ready datasets that feed foundational and discovery-enabling models across therapeutic areas.

• A prioritized portfolio of automated, closed-loop DMTA workflows supporting AI integration into applicable SM/LM programs.

• Long-term spend model (capital vs. lease/license) with vendor agreements aligned to cost-efficiency targets.

• Pharma RED and PT wide capture of lab workflows, overlap/gap analysis, and automation standards.

• Accelerator sandbox lab operations team established with technology transfer plans to the Roche/ Genentech R&D groups.

Who you are:

• PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g., biochemistry, structural biology) with 12+ years of experience in lab automation, high-throughput workflows, and drug discovery.

• Track record designing, building, and managing automated systems at scale (e.g., Hamilton, Tecan, Agilent, HighRes and more).

• Experience co-developing and deploying enterprise informatics platforms.

• Proven cross-functional leadership across large and small molecule discovery, structural biology.

• Experience influencing enterprise automation strategy and budgeting, including capital vs. lease/license planning and vendor negotiation.

• Recognized thought leader with external presence in the lab automation community (e.g., SLAS, PEGS, PepTalk)

Relocation benefits are NOT available for this job posting

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of San Francisco is $213,700 - 396,900 of hiring range. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

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