Freelance Machine Learning Engineer Jobs in Kansas

At Amgen, if you feel like you're part of something bigger, it's because you are. Our shared mission-to serve patients living with serious illnesses-drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we've helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world's toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas -Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease- we reach millions of patients each year. As a member of the Amgen team, you'll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you'll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Let's do this. Let's change the world. The AI & Data for Engineered Biologics (AIDE) organization at Amgen is seeking a Senior Director to lead our BioIntelligence team. The Senior Director will lead the development and deployment of AI-driven predictive modeling capabilities for biologics discovery in our Large Molecule Discovery organization.

The BioIntelligence team applies machine learning, statistical modeling, and generative AI approaches to predict critical properties of engineered biologics and enable data-driven therapeutic design. These capabilities support programs across discovery, protein engineering, immunology, and developability by transforming experimental data into actionable predictive models and scientific software.

In this vital role, you will lead a sophisticated multidisciplinary team of machine learning and data scientists responsible for developing scalable AI solutions that accelerate biologics discovery. You will define the scientific and technical strategy for AI-driven biologics property prediction while partnering closely with experimental teams, data engineering groups, and software platform teams across Amgen.

This role requires a leader with deep expertise in machine learning for biological systems, experience building and mentoring high-performing scientific teams, and a track record of translating advanced computational methods into impactful research capabilities.

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the BioIntelligence Team within our Large Molecule Discovery organization, defining strategy and priorities for AI-driven biologics modeling.
• Develop and execute a roadmap for machine learning and AI approaches that accelerate engineered biologics discovery.
• Align BioIntelligence capabilities with broader Research and Large Molecule Discovery priorities.

AI for Biologics Modeling

• Oversee development of predictive models for key biologics properties, including developability, stability, manufacturability, and immunogenicity.
• Advance modeling approaches using modern AI techniques such as:
  • protein language models
  • generative modeling and inverse folding
  • representation learning
  • active learning and Bayesian optimization
• Guide the use of multimodal biological datasets including sequence, structure, and experimental assay data.

Platform Integration & Model Deployment

• Lead development of production-quality research software and deployable ML models used across discovery teams.
• Partner with software engineering and data platform teams to ensure models are scalable, reproducible, and integrated into R&D workflows.
• Establish best practices for MLOps, model lifecycle management, and reproducible scientific computing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with teams across protein engineering, immunology, display technologies, systems biology, and discovery platforms.
• Partner with experimental scientists to design data generation strategies and active learning loops that improve model performance.
• Collaborate with data engineering and informatics groups to improve data accessibility, quality, and reuse across the discovery ecosystem.

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of machine learning scientists and computational biologists.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, and collaboration between computational and experimental scientists.
• Drive adoption of AI solutions across research teams by ensuring models are interpretable, robust, and scientifically trusted.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a leader with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree in Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biophysics, or related field and 5 years of experience applying machine learning or computational modeling to biological systems.

OR

Master's degree in Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biophysics, or related field and 9 years of experience applying machine learning or computational modeling to biological systems.

OR

Bachelor's degree in Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biophysics, or related field and 11 years of experience applying machine learning or computational modeling to biological systems.

In addition to meeting at least one of the above requirements, you must have at least 5 years experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, or directing the allocation or resources. Your managerial experience may run concurrently with the required technical experience referenced above

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing machine learning models for biologics properties
• Experience with protein language models, diffusion models, generative modeling, or structure-based design
• Experience deploying ML models into production scientific software platforms
• Expertise in protein sequence or structure modeling, antibody engineering, or computational immunology
• Strong leadership experience managing multidisciplinary computational science teams
• Track record of publications, patents, or deployed technologies in AI for life sciences

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we'll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
• A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
• Stock-based long-term incentives
• Award-winning time-off plans
• Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Salary Range