Associate Director, Lab Automation & Intelligent Orchestration

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com .

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Biological Research

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is recruiting for an Associate Director, Lab Automation & Intelligent Orchestration. This position will be located on-site in Spring House, PA (Philadelphia area), and may require up to approximately 10% domestic and/or international travel.

We are seeking a strategic, hands-on leader to build the next generation of AI-native automation platforms within Discovery Technologies and Molecular Pharmacology that leverage intelligent orchestration, and advanced analytics to scale human-relevant biology and multimodal omics data generation. The Associate Director will establish lab-in-the-loop capabilities that generate high-quality biological data at scale, accelerate learning cycles, and enable predictive AI-driven drug discovery.

The successful candidate will bring expertise in laboratory automation, AI-driven orchestration, and systems integration, coupled with a strong understanding of drug discovery, complex cellular models, and omics technologies. They will drive strategic roadmaps, lead cross-functional initiatives, and deploy scalable experimental platforms that increase speed, enhance reproducibility, and unlock new opportunities for AI-enabled discovery.

Key Responsibilities

Laboratory Automation Platform Strategy

Drive strategic roadmaps and investment priorities for AI-native experimental platforms that enable scalable experimentation, multimodal data generation, and AI-driven discovery

Lead the evaluation, adoption, and scaling of transformative technologies, including robotics, autonomous experimentation, agentic AI, and intelligent orchestration, to accelerate learning cycles and discovery outcomes.

Scale Human-Relevant Biology & AI-Driven Learning

Design, deploy, and scale automated platforms supporting human-relevant models, multimodal data generation, and advanced omics workflows

Build lab-in-the-loop capabilities integrating automation, AI/ML models, analytics, and intelligent orchestration to accelerate experimentation, learning cycles, and predictive modeling

Strategic Partnership & Scientific Leadership

Lead cross-functional initiatives across biology, data science, AI/ML, informatics, engineering, and discovery organizations to align platform development with scientific priorities and accelerate AI-enabled discovery

Build strategic partnerships with technology providers, automation vendors, academic collaborators, and contract research organizations (CROs) while serving as a thought leader driving adoption of next-generation capabilities across the organization

People Leadership & Culture

Lead and develop a high-performing team of automation engineers, scientists, and technical specialists while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Strengthen organizational capabilities in automation, AI, and experimental science through talent development, coaching, and a culture that promotes innovation, learning, and scientific excellence

Qualifications

Ph.D., M.S., or equivalent experience in Engineering, Bioengineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Biology, or a related discipline

At least 6 years of relevant experience developing and scaling laboratory automation, experimental platforms, or advanced technology solutions within drug discovery

Strong understanding of drug discovery workflows, complex human-relevant biological models, and multimodal data generation approaches, including omics technologies

Deep expertise in laboratory automation, robotics, instrument integration, and workflow engineering, with experience designing and scaling complex experimental platforms

Experience building automated workflows that integrate experimentation, data generation, analytics, and digital systems

Knowledge of AI-ready data architectures, metadata frameworks, and multimodal data integration strategies

Demonstrated success translating emerging technologies into scalable research platforms and leading technical teams in a highly matrixed organization

Preferred Experience

Experience implementing lab-in-the-loop experimentation, AI-enabled workflows, agentic AI, intelligent orchestration, and autonomous experimentation

Experience leading cross-functional initiatives across biology, engineering, data science, informatics, and technology

Proven ability to translate emerging technologies into scalable scientific capabilities and business impact

Experience with AI/ML-enabled experimental workflows, agentic AI systems, workflow orchestration, or scientific computing platforms

Leadership Capabilities

Strategic thinker with a science-to-impact mindset, capable of translating emerging technologies into scalable discovery capabilities and communicating effectively with both technical and executive audiences

Innovative, self-motivated leader with strong collaboration, prioritization, and problem-solving skills who thrives in fast-paced, highly matrixed environments

Proven ability to lead through influence, drive organizational change, and build productive partnerships across internal teams, external collaborators, vendors, and technology providers

This position will be located on-site in Spring House, PA (no remote option).

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are under 18 years of age, you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $137,000 to $235,750. The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance.

Employees may be eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

Vacation – up to 120 hours per calendar year

Sick time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – up to 13 days per calendar year of Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

Additional information can be found through the link below. https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market.

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Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Big Data Management, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Developing Others, Drug Discovery Development, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Leadership, Molecular Diagnostics, Operational Excellence, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Product Knowledge, Project Reporting, Scientific Research, Strategic Thinking, Sustainability, Team Management