Associate Director, Technical Lead (SaaS & Enterprise Platform Focus)

Salary Range:

Kč1,354,220.00 - Kč2,514,980.00

 

Job Description Summary

Are you passionate about combining modern cloud technologies, AI-driven engineering, and technical leadership to accelerate scientific innovation? This is an exciting opportunity to join a newly created Product Technology & Engineering team in Prague and help shape how software is designed, built, and delivered across BR Data & Digital. As Technical Lead (SaaS & Enterprise Platform Focus), you will provide hands-on architectural and technical leadership to design and deliver robust software capabilities across SaaS, commercial, and enterprise platforms, leveraging AWS cloud, modern DevOps practices, and secure-by-design principles. You will be a hands-on champion of AI-driven engineering transformation, embedding AI into the full engineering lifecycle – from architecture and code generation to CI/CD, testing, and observability – accelerating the delivery of high-impact scientific and operational outcomes across a dynamic product portfolio.

Location: Prague, Czech Republic #LI-Hybrid

This role is based in Prague, Czech Republic. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role: please only apply if this location is accessible for you.

 

Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Lead technical solutioning across the full design-build-release lifecycle for SaaS, commercial, and enterprise/DDIT platform initiatives, ensuring performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability.

• Provide hands-on engineering leadership that elevates team quality, unblocks delivery, and sets a high bar for modern software practices.

• Champion AI-driven engineering transformation across the team, embedding AI tools into architecture, code generation, code review, CI/CD, and testing workflows.

• Drive the integration of LLM-based agents and AI models into enterprise solutions where they add measurable scientific or operational value.

• Embed security at every layer of the engineering lifecycle, enforcing OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, zero-trust principles, secrets management, and OWASP-aligned secure-by-design practices.

• Translate product and stakeholder needs into clear, sequenced technical plans and ensure execution stays aligned and unblocked across matrix teams.

• Partner closely with delivery leads, architects, operations teams, external vendors, and DDIT stakeholders to manage technical dependencies.

• Deliver predictable outcomes on time-bound initiatives.

• Contribute to a coherent technical architecture across the broader BR Data & Digital product portfolio.

• Foster a team-before-self culture of urgency, quality, and continuous improvement.

Essential for the role:

• 7+ years of hands-on experience delivering engineering solutions across SaaS, commercial, custom-built, and enterprise/DDIT platforms in a complex, large-scale environment.

• Deep expertise in AWS cloud architecture and modern DevOps practices.

• Strong experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, containerisation using Docker/Kubernetes, and git-based delivery workflows.

• Strong security mindset with practical experience in OAuth2, OIDC, SAML, secrets management, OWASP principles, least privilege, and zero-trust approaches.

• Active practitioner of AI-driven engineering, using AI tools to accelerate architecture decisions, code generation, code review, CI/CD, and testing.

• Proficiency in Python and/or Java, or another modern programming language, with the ability to lead and review code across a cross-functional engineering team.

• Proven ability to manage complex technical dependencies, mitigate risks, and keep delivery on track within time-bound product initiatives.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to frame technical decisions clearly for technical and non-technical stakeholders and influence priorities without formal authority.

Desirable for the role:

• Hands-on experience with agentic and AI-enabled software engineering, designing, integrating, and shipping LLM-based agents or AI models into production enterprise solutions.

• Experience working with and managing external vendors and corporate platform teams in a matrixed global organisation.

Benefits & Rewards:

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen.

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role: 1,354,220.00 to 2,514,980.00 CZK

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically.

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.

Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy and reflects our commitment to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, as outlined in our Code of Ethics.

Read our brochure to learn more about our global total rewards offering: https://www.novartis.com/sites/novartis_com/files/novartis-life-handbook.pdf

Note: Benefits and compensation may vary by country and are subject to local legal requirements, including provisions of collective bargaining agreements where applicable. A full overview of your compensation package, including any relevant collective bargaining agreement details applicable to your role based on your employment location and Novartis employer entity, will be communicated separately to you during the application process.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Accessibility and accommodation: 

Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all  individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an email to [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message. 

 

Skills Desired

Algorithms, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Computer Vision, Data Science, People Management, Waterfall Model