Principal Scientist, Medical Imaging & AI; Hands-On IC | CV​/ML EXP | Industry Diagnostics EXP RQD

Principal Scientist, Medical Imaging and AI

Location:

North Brunswick, NJ

Sonder Research X is a pioneering biotechnology company focused on transforming cancer diagnostics. By integrating advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, and molecular analysis, our multidisciplinary team sits at the intersection of biology, data science, and clinical research to develop breakthrough technologies for early cancer detection.

We are seeking a Principal Scientist to lead the development of advanced computer vision and machine learning pipelines to translate high-resolution images of analytes into clinically validated diagnostic signals. This is a senior, hands-on industry role for a scientist who can translate medical images into clinically meaningful, validated signals and partner closely with translational researchers and Sonder’s AI team to define analytical requirements, guide model development, and ensure imaging-derived outputs are translated into robust, scalable AI workflows.

The role involves designing and implementing computer vision algorithms for automated object detection, image segmentation, and feature extraction from microfluidic imaging data. The ideal candidate brings deep experience developing imaging analytics in commercial or clinical environments and is comfortable shaping capabilities, workflows, and standards that are still being built. This is a senior individual contributor role for a scientist who enjoys both shaping strategy and building production-grade imaging and AI workflows.

• Imaging strategy and scientific ownership:
  Guide the scientific and analytical strategy for medical image analysis across the platform, serving as the internal subject-matter expert for imaging-derived signals. Lead development of image-derived biomarkers, including radiomics and deep learning–based feature extraction of complex, high-resolution imagery such as pathology, satellite, or microscopic data. Define clinically grounded approaches to feature selection, annotation strategies, and ground-truth frameworks in collaboration with pathologists and clinical partners.
  
  Model development and validation.
• Provide scientific and clinical context to support model architecture decisions, training strategies, and interpretation of outputs. Ensure imaging pipelines are scalable, reproducible, and suitable for deployment as part of broader AI systems. Multimodal data integration.
• Lead integration of imaging-derived features with molecular, clinical, and other data modalities as capabilities are established and expanded. Partner with scientific leadership to help define data requirements, analytical frameworks, and modeling strategies that support a future multimodal diagnostic platform. Contribute to scalable, interpretable approaches for combining imaging with proteomic, transcriptomic, and other omics data as programs mature. Product development in regulated environments.
• Translate imaging analytics into product-ready components, helping establish design control, traceability, and risk-aware development practices as programs evolve. Experience with analytical verification and validation studies for AI-driven imaging workflows, ensuring the platform meets performance, robustness, and traceability standards required for IVD regulatory submissions. Support analytical validation planning and technical documentation in preparation for future clinical and regulatory requirements.
• Cross-functional leadership and mentorship:
  Serve as a senior scientific partner to the AI team, helping align imaging analytics with machine learning workflows, timelines, and technical constraints. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to scientists and AI engineers as the organization grows, establishing strong standards for analytical rigor and reproducibility.

• Advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in biomedical engineering, computer science, medical physics, applied mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 4+ years of relevant experience with medical imaging analytics, with demonstrated senior ownership in industry or commercial environments…