Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics Engineer

Background

 The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is the state’s Stem Cell Agency. We were created by the voters of California when they approved Proposition 71 in 2004, and renewed when Proposition 14 was approved in 2020, providing $5.5 billion to invest in stem cell research in California. CIRM’s mission is to accelerate world class science to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments in an equitable manner to a diverse California and world.

To meet this challenge, our team of highly trained and experienced professionals actively partners with both academia and industry in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment to fast-track the development of today’s most promising stem cell and regenerative medicine technologies. 

CIRM is the world’s largest institution dedicated to helping people by bringing the promise of regenerative medicine closer to reality.

General Statement

 CIRM is seeking a full-time Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Analytics Engineer to evaluate, design, and implement responsible AI and data solutions that integrate into grantmaking operations and advance the agency’s strategic objectives.   This role is highly independent and includes a diverse range of both AI agentic development and data engineering responsibilities to improve organizational effectiveness and data-driven decision making.

The ideal candidate is self-motivated, innovative professional with excellent technical, organizational, and project management skills.   The candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is comfortable wearing multiple hats, and can independently lead initiatives from concept through production with minimal supervision

Job Functions

The AI & Data Analytics Engineer serves as CIRM’s technical expert for Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, and Business Intelligence initiatives.   This position is responsible for evaluation emerging AI technologies, designing intelligent solutions, and building scalable data platforms that automate workflows, enhance staff productivity, deliver oversight and secure data governance, modernize information processing and to activities.

In addition to leading AI inititives, this role serves as the agency’s data engineering and Business Intelligence (BI) specialist, overseeing PowerBI solutions, data repositories, and ensuring sustainable transition from development to operational support.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as CIRM’s technical expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI), collaborating with the AI Core Execution Group (Associate Director – IT, Software Development Manager, and Project Manager) to evaluate, prototype, and implement AI solutions that support strategic business initiatives, at the direction of Executive Team Sponsors (VP of Operations and General Counsel).
• Partner with business stakeholders to gather and translate business requirements into AI-enabled workflows, intelligent agents, and machine learning models, and process automation solutions that deliver measurable business values.
• Design, build, fine-tune, and maintain AI models and application, including prompt engineering, model optimization, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), agentic AI workflow, and real-time inference pipelines.
• Architect scalable machine learning models and transform analytical insights into decision-support tools and actionable business solutions.
• Design, develop and maintain large-scale data ingestion, transformation, and processing pipelines for structured, semi-structured and unstructured data from multiple internal and external data sources that include CIRM’s Grants Management System and Fi$Cal (State of California expenditures system).
• Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify trends, patterns, anomalies, and opportunities for process automation and operational improvement.
• Ensure data integrity, quality, governance, accessibility, and compliance to support AI model training and reporting accuracy.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of data governance, standards and policies.
• Collaborate with leadership, project managers, cross-functional business teams to identify AI opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and align technology solution with CIRM’s strategic innovation roadmap.
• Promote responsible, transparent, and ethical AI practices in compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks, security requirements, privacy standards and industry best practices.
• Oversee transition of Business Intelligence (BI) solution from development to production, including documentation of data architecture, transformation scripts, infrastructure dependencies, and support procedures.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation for AI solutions, data pipelines, system architecture, development standards, and operational procedures to support knowledge transfer and long-term sustainability.

Supervision Received

The AI and Data Analytics Engineer reports to the Associate IT Director.

Qualifications (Experience and Education)

• BS in computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Information System, Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of experience in data science, data visualization, data architecture, business intelligence, or data analyst role.
• Demonstrated experience in the last 2 years of designing and delivering impactful, business-focused solutions using AI technologies from leading industry providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, etc.
• Strong proficiency with data visualization tools with 2+ experience with Microsoft PowerBI.
• Proficiency with Microsoft SQL, Postgres SQL, Python, DAX, and experience using those skills with large datasets.
• Familiarity with data engineering tools and concepts, ETL pipeline development, data model design, data warehousing, and data integration.
• Ability to clearly communicate project goals, timelines and expectations with all business stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, presentation skills with meticulous attention to details
• Strong time management skills with ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines

Desired Skills/Abilities

• A highly motivated and independent contributor with excellent organizational and personal management skills, who is comfortable in a self-directed environment with minimal supervision.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid environment, required to work two days in the South San Francisco office and three days remotely. In-person attendance of organizational meetings and board, subcommittee, and working group meetings as required.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be willing to work in a high-rise building.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment.
• Be available to work outside of normal business hours.

Salary Range and Benefits

This position is expected to pay $153,831- $180,585 which fits within the full salary range of $153,831- $199,218.  It is uncommon for an individual to be offered a salary close to the upper end of the full range for a position. Salary for this position will reflect the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, relevant education, and certifications, in addition to being aligned with the internal leadership peer group.

Required Application Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Cover Letter
• Resume/CV

For any inquiries about the position sent to jobs@cirm.ca.gov, the e-mail should have the position title on the subject line. 

Contact Information

Robert Souza

Email - jobs@cirm.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled.  You may direct additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for this position to CIRM’s EEO Office.

• EEO Officer: Denise D’Angel
• Email:jobs@cirm.ca.gov
• California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free workplace. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.