Technical Associate Director Data Architecture

Job Description Summary
The Scientific Data & Products (SDP) group in Research Informatics (RX) is driven to maximize the impact and value to BR of software and data. We deliver powerful, functional, beautiful, and integrated software solutions that create a frictionless user experience. Our organization is here to build and apply excellence in product and data management to further Novartis drug discovery.

Job Description

As a Data Architect you will design an efficient, elegant, and high-performance data architecture and flow of data through the data systems backing our scientific data products. You will work closely with colleagues in product management, data engineering, business analysis and user experience, data science, and information security and risk management teams to deliver on our product vision. You will create an efficient, secure, compliant, performant, and sustainable data landscape which will be crucial for successfully achieving RX's strategic goal of democratizing access to BR's data.

Major Responsibilities

• Independently design enterprise-quality data architecture sitting behind our products
• Frequently update the design to reflect learnings from our agile product teams
• Factor in BR- and Novartis-wide data ecosystem impact
• Define, initiate and/or drive solutions that enable smooth user experience of data flow and connectivity through entire processes across scientific domains with enterprise level impact
• Advance and achieve very high level of adoption of RX and industry best practices by product teams

• Design, implement and maintain security/infrastructure requirements for development / testing environment, OR design, implement and keep technology stack of relevant products for development, test and production use support OR manage application infrastructure including application infrastructure design input, application installation and deployment and operational management of the application infrastructure.
• Work in close collaboration with Architecture and Operations to integrate new solutions, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of solutions required for new projects and high integration of components.
• Help to drive architectural improvements and standardization for the infrastructure/security environments.
• Develop and enhance automated processes to release new solutions into the live environment or create reusable and automation frameworks.
• Ensure controls are in place for all configuration items and only authorized changes are made for all assets within enterprise IT environment
• Ensure creation of detailed solution/service design matching high level designs and functional specifications to meet quality and performance requirements and ensure the quality, cost and timelines of feature and product implementations OR install applications per approved designs, acting as DevOps lead ensuring infrastructure is deployed/developed to meet technical design, and operationally manage application infrastructure, taking preventive measures to avoid unplanned outages

Major accountabilities:

A successful candidate must have extensive expertise in data architecture and experience with scientific data types used in drug discovery including biology, chemistry, and clinical data. Additional skills are required in the area of process change management and with the alignment of non-IT scientists behind strategic data management goals and initiatives.

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following skills and capabilities:

• Expertise in data architecture, data engineering, or software engineering
• Excellent knowledge in at least two of BR's core data areas (molecular biology, chemistry/chemical biology, clinical)
• Experience with developing or supporting standard IT products used in these core data areas together with an excellent understanding of the data flows between those
• Proven experience with architecting IT solutions that enable laboratory data workflows on a global company level
• Balancing corporate and departmental priorities and goals on a global level
• Proven mindset that demonstrates an understanding of the needs of a global company's digital journey
• Proven drive for ensuring data consistency
• Consensus-building skills and ability to win others in IT and science to follow a shared vision
• Proven ability to execute consistently, rapidly, and effectively
• Outstanding communication skills and excellent stakeholder management
• Proven ability to operate successfully at the challenging interface between research and development functions and aligning their diverse needs
• Expertise in identifying and/or creating initiatives that move the organization to new levels of effectiveness
• Ability to improve processes and methods across scientific domains and laboratory workflows
• Experience with agile software development
• Experience with linked data concepts, technologies, and tools

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years experience as a data architect, data engineer, or software engineer
• 5 years experience creating scientific software, or working in a drug discovery environment or related scientific field
• Proven experience in managing scientific domain-specific data and metadata
• Master's degree (or equivalent experience)
• Excellent technical skills
• Experience in the practice of agile software development processes
• Experience with distributed data processing and management systems
• Experience in working with ontologies and managing data described in RDF
• Experience with cloud technologies (AWS, Google, or Azure)
• Experience working with Graph databases is a plus

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;/b>

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 or call and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range
$152,600.00 - $283,400.00

Skills Desired
Algorithms, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Computer Vision, Data Science, People Management, R&D (Research And Development), Solution Design, Waterfall Model

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.