Principal Data Scientist Full-time NEW

Principal Data Scientist

We are currently recruiting for Principal Data Scientist based in Jacksonville FL, Raritan NJ, Spring House PA, Irvine, CA or any other J&J East Coast locations.

Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we're developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.

Are you passionate about improving and expanding on the possibilities of vision treatments? Ready to join a team that's reimagining how vision is improved? Our Vision team solves the toughest health challenges. Help combine cutting-edge insights, science, technology, and people to encourage eye care professionals and patients to proactively protect, correct and enhance healthy sight for life. Our products and services address these needs – from the pediatric to aging eye – in a patient's lifetime.

Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness.

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Principal Data Scientist to design, develop, and deploy AI solutions that span both discriminative and generative AI methods.

In this senior role, you will serve as a technical leader and hands-on contributor, working closely with business stakeholders, data engineers, and platform teams to solve complex problems with advanced machine learning and AI techniques. You will drive projects from ideation through deployment, ensuring solutions are scalable, compliant, and aligned with best practices in responsible AI.

The Principal Data Scientist will:

• Design and implement end-to-end AI solutions using both discriminative (e.g., classification, regression, etc.) and generative (e.g., LLMs, content synthesis, etc.) approaches.
• Select appropriate algorithms and architectures, balancing accuracy, interpretability, and performance.
• Build proof-of-concept models and scale them into production-ready solutions.
• Integrate LLM APIs and RAG pipelines where applicable, leveraging enterprise-approved tools and platforms.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate business objectives into clear problem statements and AI solution design.
• Work with data engineers to ensure pipelines and data sources are optimized for AI workloads.
• Collaborate with data governance teams to ensure models are developed and deployed in compliance with privacy, security, and ethical AI standards.
• Use Dataiku (or similar platforms) to accelerate solution development, experimentation, and deployment.
• Contribute to reusable templates, workflows, and best practices for AI/ML delivery.
• Stay informed on emerging AI methods, tools, and frameworks, advising on strategic adoption for the organization.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned by management

Required Qualifications:

• Master's Degree / PhD + 4 years' experience, OR Bachelor's Degree + 6 years' experience
• Educational degree in quantitative field, such as Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Economics, and/or related quantitative
• Expertise in both discriminative and generative AI approaches, including deep learning architectures.
• Proficiency in Python and common ML frameworks
• Strong foundation in statistics, optimization, and algorithm design.
• Hands-on experience with Dataiku or similar AI/analytics platforms such as Databricks, SageMaker, or Vertex AI
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) for AI/ML workloads.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to travel both domestically and internationally may be required (~5-10%).
• Ability to flex hours to accommodate multiple time zones when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with data governance frameworks and model risk management practices.
• Knowledge of MLOps concepts and tools for model monitoring, CI/CD, and automated retraining.
• Experience working in large matrixed organization, with Global footprint

Required Skills: Advanced Analytics, Coaching, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Privacy Standards, Data Quality, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Data Science, Data Visualization, Digital Fluency, Econometric Models, Organizing, Process Improvements, Strategic Thinking, Technical Credibility, Workflow Analysis

The anticipated base pay range for this position is: $117,000.00 – $201,250.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company's consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)). Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits: Vacation –120 hours per calendar year Sick time – 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year Work, Personal and Family Time – up to 40 hours per calendar year Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period 10 days Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year