Director, Next-Generation Sequencing Biologics Engineering at AstraZeneca

Job Title: Director Next-Generation Sequencing - Biologics EngineeringLocation: Gaithersburg MDRecognizing the importance of individualized flexibility our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office is purposely designed with collaboration in mind providing space where teams can come together to strategize brainstorm and connect on key projects.Introduction to RoleYou will lead the transformation of NGS capabilities within AstraZenecas Biologics Engineering department positioning our organization as the global leader in AI-driven antibody discovery and engineering. This is a high-visibility strategic role where you will build a world-class NGS platform that seamlessly integrates with our cutting-edge AI/ML initiatives directly enabling breakthrough therapeutics in oncology and beyond.In this role youll architect the future of data generation for drug discovery. Youll oversee the implementation of advanced sequencing technologies design custom bioinformatics workflows optimized for antibody discovery and lead a high-performing team of scientists and bioinformaticians. Your strategic vision will directly impact how AstraZeneca discovers and engineers the next generation of therapeutic antibodies.What Youll Accomplish in Your First YearFirst 30 DaysEstablish relationships with key stakeholders across Biologics Engineering Bioinformatics AI teams Cambridge UK and Therapeutic Areas in R&DAssess current NGS capabilities infrastructure team composition pain points and bottlenecksAlign with your team on strategic priorities and quick-win opportunitiesUnderstand data processing requirements and integration challenges with AI pipelinesFirst 90 DaysDevelop a comprehensive NGS strategy that aligns with AI/ML requirements for antibody discovery workflowsEvaluate emerging NGS platforms (long-read sequencing advanced single-cell technologies) and recommend adoption roadmapEstablish governance and data standards to ensure NGS outputs seamlessly integrate with AI algorithmsLaunch one high-impact project demonstrating improved NGS-to-AI data pipeline efficiencyFirst 180 DaysDeploy advanced bioinformatics pipelines for antibody repertoire analysis lineage tracing and affinity maturation studiesImplement automation improvements in sample preparation and library construction increasing throughput by 30%Establish AstraZeneca as a thought leader publish or present at major conferences on NGS-AI integration for antibody discoveryDefine the global NGS strategy in collaboration with Cambridge and establish governance for technology standardization across sitesYour Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Vision & LeadershipYou will develop and execute the comprehensive NGS strategy for Biologics Engineering with specific focus on antibody discovery antibody engineering and supporting Therapeutic Areas across our global R&D organization. You will drive the integration of NGS data generation into AI/ML pipelines ensuring that sequencing workflows are optimized for machine learning applications. You will establish AstraZeneca as the world leader in NGS applications for biologics discovery.Team Leadership & DevelopmentYou will lead mentor and develop a high-performing team of 4 scientists fostering a culture of scientific innovation that bridges traditional NGS approaches with emerging AI technologies. You will build strong internal partnerships and create an environment where team members grow into future leaders.Technology & InnovationYou will spearhead evaluation and adoption of emerging sequencing technologiesincluding long-read platforms advanced single-cell approaches and spatial genomicsto enhance AstraZenecas research capabilities. You will collaborate closely with Discovery and AI teams to understand experimental and data requirements and ensure NGS data processing and outputs are structured and formatted to seamlessly integrate with clustering down selection and machine learning models. You will develop advanced bioinformatics pipelines specifically designed for antibody sequence analysis including repertoire analysis lineage tracing and affinity maturation studies. You will drive automation in sample preparation library construction and NGS workflows to increase efficiency reproducibility and throughput.Data Strategy & BioinformaticsYou will design and implement robust scalable bioinformatics workflows that support NGS applications across biologics discovery and development. You will work with computational scientists to integrate NGS data with structural developability and assay data and drive data-driven decision-making. You will establish data governance standards quality metrics and reproducibility frameworks that ensure data integrity and enable seamless AI integration.Global Collaboration & Stakeholder ManagementYou will align NGS strategies with the Biologics Engineering team in Cambridge UK and support operations at the Waltham site ensuring consistent capabilities and best practices across the organization. You will foster strong partnerships with Therapeutic Areas in R&D oncology and translational medicine teams. You will manage key external relationships with sequencing platform vendors academic collaborators and industry partners.External Leadership & Thought LeadershipYou will represent AstraZeneca at major international conferences (AGBT antibody engineering meetings bioinformatics symposia) and publish peer-reviewed research demonstrating our innovations in NGS-AI integration for antibody discovery. You will establish AstraZenecas reputation as a leader in this space through speaking engagements publications and strategic partnerships with academic institutions.Resource Management & Budget OversightYou will oversee resource allocation and strategic planning for the NGS Team within Biologics Engineering. You will make evidence-based recommendations on capital equipment investments staffing and external partnerships to maximize impact and ROI.Essential Education & ExperiencePh.D. in Molecular Biology Genetics Bioinformatics Computational Biology Biochemistry or related field7 years of progressive experience in NGS technologies and applications within pharmaceutical or biotechnology industryDemonstrated success leading and managing scientific teams (3 direct reports) with track record of fostering innovation and driving strategic initiatives to completionExtensive hands-on experience with multiple NGS platforms (Illumina PacBio Oxford Nanopore or similar) and emerging sequencing technologiesStrong background in laboratory automation and high-throughput genomics workflowsDeep expertise in antibody discovery processes and biologics developmentTechnical SkillsProficiency in Python and/or R for bioinformatics pipeline developmentExperience designing and implementing scalable reproducible scientific workflowsFamiliarity with cloud computing environments (AWS Azure Google Cloud) for bioinformatics applicationsUnderstanding of machine learning fundamentals and ability to communicate data requirements with AI/ML teamsKnowledge of relevant tools: NGS quality assessment variant calling sequence alignment phylogenetic analysisExperience with version control containerization (Docker) and reproducible research practicesLeadership & Communication SkillsProven ability to influence and collaborate effectively across organizational levelsfrom individual contributors to senior leadershipExcellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiencesStrategic thinking combined with execution excellencecomfortable setting vision while rolling up sleeves on technical challengesExperience building high-performing teams and creating cultures of innovationTrack record of successfully managing multiple stakeholders with competing prioritiesPreferred QualificationsExperience integrating NGS data into machine learning pipelinesHands-on expertise with antibody repertoire sequencing and analysisPublications or presentations at peer-reviewed conferences in NGS or genomicsExperience with single-cell sequencing technologies (10x Genomics)International experience or familiarity with multi-site coordination in global organizationsBackground in project management or program leadership within R&D environmentWhy Youll Succeed HereStrategic OpportunityThis role sits at the intersection of two transformative technologies: advanced NGS and discovery. Youll have the autonomy resources and executive support to build something genuinely innovative that directly accelerates antibody discovery and patient impact.Your Team & ResourcesYoull lead a talented team of scientists with access to state-of-the-art sequencing infrastructure cloud computing resources and partnerships with AI teams.Global PlatformYoull work across AstraZenecas Biologics Engineering organizationcollaborating with Cambridge UK Waltham MA and Gaithersburg MDand supporting therapeutic areas including oncology and translational medicine. This is truly global high-impact science.Total Rewards:The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $172672.00 - $259008.00. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentivesan opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs paid time off (i.e. vacation holiday and leaves) as well as health dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.AstraZenecais an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing.#LI-HybridDate Posted14-Nov-2025Closing Date11-Dec-2025Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and furtherance of that mission we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation please complete the corresponding section in the application form.Required Experience:Director Key Skills Go,Lean,Management Experience,React,Node.js,Operations Management,Project Management,Research & Development,Software Development,Team Management,GraphQL,Leadership Experience Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1 Monthly Salary Salary: 172672 - 259008