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

Company: Sonder Research X
Location: North Brunswick
Posted on: February 12, 2026

Job Description:

Principal Scientist, Medical Imaging and AI Location: North Brunswick, NJ Company description 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. About the role 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. Key responsibilities 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. Serve as the primary subject-matter expert for medical imaging and image-derived biomarkers, informing scientific direction, technical tradeoffs, and long-term imaging strategy. 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. 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 those 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 the development of 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 the rigorous 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. Required qualifications 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 (healthtech, medtech, diagnostics, pharma, or equivalent). Deep expertise in medical imaging using computer vision; familiarity with pathology-relevant modalities is a strong plus. Workflows for interpretable machine learning Strong hands-on experience building and validating imaging ML models using modern toolchains (Python required; deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow). Experience working with medical imaging data and associated metadata; familiarity with standards such as DICOM and clinical imaging workflows is a plus. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with clinical partners (for example, pathologists and, where applicable, life scientists), translating clinical needs into technical requirements and interpretable outputs. Strongly preferred Experience with analytical verification and validation studies for machine learning/AI-driven imaging workflows, ensuring the platform meets the rigorous performance, robustness, and traceability standards required for IVD regulatory submissions. Experience supporting regulated or quality-aligned development (SaMD/IVD adjacent, design controls, traceability, validation planning, audit-ready documentation). Experience with imaging dataset curation and annotation operations, including quality assurance of labels and consideration of inter-reader variability. Experience with multimodal modeling that combines imaging with molecular or clinical features. Familiarity with clinical data interoperability concepts and real-world data constraints is a plus. Experience with deployment considerations such as model monitoring, performance drift, edge cases, and change control planning. What we offer Competitive compensation and meaningful equity opportunity, commensurate with seniority and experience. Salary Range: $165k–$195k base 15% bonus. Impactful work at the forefront of early cancer detection, with direct influence on core technical strategy. High ownership and visibility, working closely with scientific and executive leadership. A collaborative, multidisciplinary environment integrating imaging, AI/ML, and translational science.

Keywords: Sonder Research X, Fairfield , Principal Scientist, Medical Imaging & AI (Hands-On IC | CV/ML EXP | Industry Diagnostics EXP RQD), Science, Research & Development , North Brunswick, Connecticut