Senior Distinguished Scientist, Robotics & Autonomous Discovery

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.

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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 R&D is seeking a Senior Distinguished Scientist, Robotics & Autonomous Discovery to help define, build, and deploy the automation platforms that enable autonomous and AI-enabled drug discovery.  The primary location for this role is Spring House, PA.  Remote work options in the US may be considered on a case-by-case basis and if approved by the Company.  (An internal pre-identified candidate for consideration has been identified. However, all applications will be considered.)
 

This senior technical leadership role sits at the intersection of robotics, laboratory automation, instrumentation, software integration, artificial intelligence, and discovery science. The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority and hands-on innovation leader for advanced automation systems that accelerate Design-Make-Test-Analyze (DMTA) cycles across small molecule and biologic discovery.
 

The role is accountable for translating discovery automation priorities into technical architecture, engineering design, proof-of-principle execution, integration standards, and scalable platform implementation. The leader will partner closely with Discovery, In Silico Discovery, data science, engineering, quality, regulatory, EHS, and external innovation partners to deliver reliable, compliant, and operationally ready automation capabilities.
 

This is an opportunity to shape a new generation of autonomous discovery capabilities at enterprise scale. The leader in this role will help build robotics and automation platforms that improve the speed, quality, reproducibility, and learning velocity of therapeutic discovery. The work will connect physical laboratory systems with advanced computational and AI methods to create more integrated, data-rich, and scalable discovery workflows.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority for design, development, qualification, and deployment of advanced laboratory automation and self-driving laboratory capabilities within Discovery.
• Architect integrated automation ecosystems spanning robotic liquid handling, high-throughput synthesis and screening instrumentation, automated sample management, inline analytics, software interfaces, and hardware control systems.
• Integrate agentic AI, machine learning, and closed-loop control strategies with physical automation hardware to enable autonomous experimental execution and iterative DMTA cycle optimization.
• Own the technical architecture and platform roadmap for robotics and autonomous discovery, including engineering specifications, integration standards, platform sequencing, implementation readiness, and long-term scalability.
• Lead automation programs from concept and proof-of-principle validation through industrial-scale implementation, ensuring reliability, compliance, serviceability, and operational adoption.
• Establish and guide proof-of-principle laboratory efforts to de-risk novel automation technologies, validate integration concepts, and accelerate transition into production discovery workflows.
• Serve as a senior technical evaluator for external technologies, vendors, academic collaborators, and innovation partners to inform build, buy, and partner decisions.
• Provide expert troubleshooting and technical leadership for complex automation, equipment, process, and system-integration challenges.
• Mentor multidisciplinary teams across a matrixed organization and foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, disciplined execution, and delivery accountability.
• Represent J&J automation innovation capabilities in external scientific forums, industry consortia, publications, patents, and regulatory or technical engagements as appropriate.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Robotics, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Minimum of 20 years of progressive industrial experience in technology development, automation, engineering, advanced manufacturing, discovery operations, or related fields.

• Demonstrated track record leading end-to-end development, qualification, commercialization, and deployment of advanced automation systems in industrial, regulated, discovery, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or related environments.

• Deep expertise in automation hardware design and integration, including robotic platforms, precision motion systems, mechatronic design, sensor and actuator integration, instrumentation, and system controls.

• Experience translating scientific and engineering principles into robust, scalable, deployable automation platforms.

• Proven ability to lead large, matrixed, cross-functional teams through complex, multi-year technology programs with significant organizational impact.

• Experience with equipment design controls, lifecycle management, process validation, system qualification, or equivalent regulated technology-development practices.

• Demonstrated ability to own technical architecture, platform roadmaps, integration standards, and implementation sequencing aligned with enterprise priorities.

• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage effectively with scientists, engineers, data scientists, external partners, and executive stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing or deploying automation systems in life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical R&D, drug discovery operations, or advanced laboratory environments.
• Familiarity with self-driving laboratory principles, autonomous experimentation, DMTA cycle optimization, and closed-loop learning systems.
• Understanding of AI, machine learning, agent-based systems, or autonomous optimization as applied to laboratory automation and scientific workflows.
• Knowledge of small molecule and/or biologic discovery workflows, including high-throughput experimentation, screening, synthesis, sample logistics, and analytical characterization.
• Experience with intellectual property development, including invention disclosures, patents, publications, or external scientific representation.
• Experience with additive manufacturing, digital engineering, advanced manufacturing, or rapid prototyping technologies that enable automation innovation.

The primary location for this role is Spring House, PA.  Remote work options in the US may be considered on a case-by-case basis and if approved by the Company.  (An internal pre-identified candidate for consideration has been identified. However, all applications will be considered.)

 

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 $196,000 to $342,700. 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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