Executive Director, Frontier AI

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Define and guide Amgen’s Frontier AI strategy encompassing foundation models, multi-modal AI, advanced model architecture, academic collaborations, and quantum AI/ML.

• Develop and sustain an enterprise roadmap that transforms emerging AI research into scalable capabilities for R&D, Operations, Commercial, and corporate functions.

• Lead the development and implementation of frontier AI capabilities, including foundation models, multi-modal systems, simulation-based learning, and reinforcement learning.

• Identify and prioritize impactful use cases that enhance scientific discovery, decision-making, productivity, and operational performance.

• Collaborate with AI platform, data engineering, architecture, product, domain teams, and CDT to create scalable, reliable, secure, resilient, and governed solutions.

• Set technical standards for model evaluation, experimentation, benchmarking, validation, and production readiness.

• Formulate strategies for academic and external research partnerships.

• Assess opportunities in quantum AI/ML and quantum-enabled optimization.

• Supervise proof-of-concept, pilot, and production pathways with governance, documentation, monitoring, lifecycle management, and review processes.

• Build, lead, and nurture a high-performing frontier AI organization.

• Communicate strategy, progress, risks, investment requirements, and outcomes to senior and executive stakeholders.

• Collaborate with CDT on adversarial testing, operational resilience, and security assurance for high-risk AI capabilities.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of frontier AI experience, or Master’s degree and 10 years, or Doctorate degree and 6 years.

• 6 years of managerial experience managing people directly and/or leading teams, projects, or programs, including resource allocation.

• Proven experience with foundation models.

• Familiarity with multi-modal AI and systems.

• Expertise in advanced model architecture.

• Experience with simulation-based learning and reinforcement learning.

• Understanding of academic and external research partnerships.

• Knowledge of quantum AI/ML and quantum-enabled optimization.

• Experience with model architecture evaluation, experimentation, benchmarking, validation, and production readiness.

• Knowledge in AI governance, responsible AI, privacy, regulatory, model-risk, security, resilience, and considerations for high-risk deployments.

• Capability to lead cross-functional collaboration across AI & Data Science, Technology, Security, R&D, Operations, Commercial, Legal, Compliance, and Privacy.

• Leadership aligned with Amgen’s core attributes: Inspire, Accelerate, Integrate, and Adapt.

• Sponsorship for this position is not guaranteed.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive employee benefits package.

• Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions.

• Group medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Life and disability insurance.

• Flexible spending accounts.

• Discretionary annual bonus program.

• Stock-based long-term incentives.

• Award-winning time-off plans.

• Bi-annual company-wide shutdowns.

• Flexible work models where possible.

• Career development opportunities.

• Work/life balance support.

• Inclusive, collaborative culture.

• Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.