Technical Associate Director Data Architecture

Job Description Summary

Job Description

The Data Management group in Research Informatics (RX) is seeking a visionary and technically skilled Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale data architectures. This role is pivotal in ensuring that biomedical research data is AI-ready, accessible, and interoperable across scientific domains. The focus is on designing robust data architectures, technical stacks, and APIs that enable seamless data integration, governance, and utilization by AI models and data scientists.

Major Responsibilities

- Design and evolve enterprise-level data architectures that support scientific data interoperability and AI-readiness.
- Define and implement technical stacks and APIs to enable secure, scalable, and performant data access.
- Establish formal data architecture processes aligned with research data management policies and FAIR principles.
- Collaborate with domain experts to define logical data domains, sub-domains, and critical data elements (CDEs).
- Inventory and map physical data repositories to logical domains and facilitate metadata capture at data creation.
- Develop conceptual and logical data models and document relationships between data objects.
- Ensure alignment with scientific standards (e.g., HELM, CDISC) and enforce metadata governance.
- Promote the creation of "born FAIR" data and support the publication of CDEs to foundational platforms (e.g., data lakes, warehouses).
- Collaborate with IT, data engineering, and security teams to ensure compliance, automation, and operational integration.
- Drive architectural improvements and standardization across scientific data workflows.

Qualifications:

- 10+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or software development.
- 5+ years in scientific software or drug discovery environments.
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
- Deep expertise in designing data architectures, APIs, and technical stacks.
- Experience with RDF, ontologies, cloud platforms (AWS, Google, Azure), and graph databases.
- Strong understanding of laboratory data workflows and scientific data types (biology, chemistry, clinical).
- Proven ability to align scientific and IT stakeholders around strategic data initiatives.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of data architecture in biomedical research and to enable transformative AI-driven insights.

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary: The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $152,600 and $283,400 per year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

You'll Receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

Skills Desired