Novartis Posted July 1, 2026

Senior Scientist I- Translational Medicine- PKS, ADME

Cambridge (USA), United States Regular
Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research Senior

Novartis is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

LI#-OnsiteLocation: CambridgeInternal Title: Senior Scientist ISupport discovery and development projects through the design, development, and execution of in-vitro ADME assays, while building next generation lab automation capabilities to deliver high-quality study data for informed decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:Plan, execute and report ADME assays such as metabolic stability and permeability to support PK Science’s strategies.Interpret in vitro ADME data and translate findings to support early discovery, compound optimization and selection.Contribute to novel ADME methodologies and expand assay capabilities.Advance automation strategies (e.g., liquid handling, assay miniaturization, assay multiplexing) to expand laboratory capacity, standardize execution to reduce manual effort, and strengthen discovery assay operations.Execute and/or contribute to fully automated, end-to-end ADME assay workflows integrated with AI-enabled analytics.Develop methods to support small and large molecule bio-analysis using LCMS-MS, HRMS, and ICP-MS techniques.Troubleshot lab instrumentation and automation platforms.Manage study timelines, objectives and budgets, ensure accuracy of project progress in company tracking tools.   Under management supervision, work to effectively communicate data, strategy and results to the project teams. Contribute to internal ADME study reports and regulatory documents (IND, IMPD, NDA, etc.).Participate in cross-departmental teams, department-wide initiatives and work streams.Complete all required organizational trainings and requirements according to corporate timelines. Adhere in strict accord to the appropriate SOP, quality and HSE guidelines.Essential Requirements:BSc or MSc with relevant experience in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics or related field.BSc: 7+ years; MSc: 4+ years of ADME/DMPK experience.Experience working in a drug discovery or development laboratory or relevant experience in a CRO, Pharma or Biotech is highly desirable. Experience in metabolic stability and permeability assays highly preferrable; cell culture experience is a plus.Experience with laboratory automation integrated with AI-enabled analytics is highly desirable.Knowledge of related disciplines (e.g., bioanalytical, toxicology, biomarker) in the drug discovery or development process.Ability to work as part of a cross-functional team in a highly dynamic, matrixed, project-team environment. Strong organizational and project skills with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Fluent oral and written EnglishThe salary for this position is expected to range between $89,600 and $166,400 per year. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves. To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Job details

Seniority
Senior
Function
Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Cambridge (USA), United States
Employment type
Regular

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 188 comparable Senior Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 30 biopharma companies.

188Comparable roles tracked
170Currently active
30Companies hiring similar roles
12Countries represented

Salary context

61 of 188 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject $89,600/yr – $166,400/yr
Highest disclosed · Senior Principal Scientist, Pharmacokinetics · Merck $194,100/yr – $305,600/yr
Peer group range $105,700 – $249,850 (median $165,300)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 188 comparable roles

United States153
India8
Germany5
United Kingdom5
Canada4
China's Mainland3

+ 6 more countries

Seniority mix

188 of 188 peers have a known seniority level

Senior110
Principal57
Associate Director21

Therapeutic area mix

29 of 188 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Oncology16
Cardiovascular / CVRM7
Immunology4
Neuroscience1
Respiratory1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Merck West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America Senior
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60%similar
Merck South San Francisco, California, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Merck Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Scientist/Sr Scientist, Discovery Strategy and Operations
Lilly · Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Scientist, Computational Safety & Exploratory Pharmacology
Merck · West Point, Pennsylvania, United States of America · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Sr. Scientist, Primary Pharmacology
Pfizer · Groton, United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Scientist, Toxicology II
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.