Genentech · 18 hours ago
Senior Principal Scientist, Peptide Therapeutics
South San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$169K/yr - $313K/yr
7+ years expGenentech is dedicated to advancing science and ensuring access to healthcare. They are seeking a Senior Principal Scientist in Peptide Therapeutics to lead the discovery and development of novel peptide therapeutics, guiding projects from concept to clinical development while mentoring junior scientists.
BiotechnologyLife ScienceManufacturing
Responsibilities
Drive the discovery of novel peptide therapeutics. Govern the design and synthesis of innovative peptides and peptidomimetics with enhanced potency, stability, and pharmacokinetic properties
Lead scientific and project teams from concept to clinic. Initiate and lead new research projects, guiding them from early hit identification through lead optimization, with the ultimate goal of advancing promising compounds to clinical development
Implement rational drug design strategies. Apply a broad repertoire of skills, including peptide synthesis, conformational analysis, and computational methods to implement strategic structure-activity relationship plans that optimize the pharmaceutical properties of peptide leads
Champion cross-functional collaboration. Lead or co-lead multidisciplinary teams, serving as a key scientific partner to colleagues in Research Biology and Drug Discovery to overcome complex challenges associated with the development of peptide therapeutics
Provide scientific leadership and mentorship. Supervise and mentor junior scientists, contribute to the prioritization of team objectives, and propose future strategies to meet broader portfolio goals
Ensure data integrity and project success. Oversee the analysis and interpretation of complex analytical data, including mass spectrometry, HPLC, and NMR, to confirm compound identity and purity. You will be responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously, delivering high-quality results on time
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. or postdoctoral degree in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related field
A minimum of 7 years of experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with a proven track record of advancing drug candidates from the conceptual stage into clinical testing
Demonstrated mastery in complex molecule organic synthesis, including proficiency in both automated solid-phase peptide synthesis, and solution-phase small molecule synthesis, utilizing state-of-the-art protecting group and purification strategies
Must possess expertise in high-throughput and parallel synthesis for library generation, coupled with the expert ability to analyze and interpret all relevant analytical data (HPLC, Mass Spectrometry, NMR) to confirm the identity and purity of all synthesized drug candidates
Required experience in designing, developing, and implementing novel synthetic routes to overcome challenging chemical and physicochemical issues associated with optimizing both peptide and small molecule scaffolds
Must possess deep experience in the design and multi-step synthesis of novel, non-commercial building blocks and scaffolds to enable SAR exploration and overcome property liabilities
Deep knowledge of macrocyclic peptides, including the properties required for different routes of administration (i.e. IV vs SC vs PO, etc), and related library-based screening technologies (e.g., OBOC, mRNA display, AS/MS)
Experience with computational modeling and simulation for peptide design and optimization, including conformational sampling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations
Proficiency in structure-based drug design and ligand-based drug design to guide peptide modifications
Familiarity with machine learning and AI-driven platforms for predicting peptide properties, optimizing sequences, and generating novel scaffolds
Experience using common computational chemistry software (e.g., Schrödinger, MOE, Maestro, or similar)
Demonstrated success in a leadership role, guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver drug candidates
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire and lead within a globally matrixed organization
A highly collaborative and transparent style, with a proven ability to mentor junior scientists and build strong relationships across all levels of the organization
Benefits
Relocation benefits are available for this posting.
A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.
Company
Genentech
Genentech is a biotechnology research company that specializes in genetic testing and personalized medicines.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Genentech has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (167)
2024 (148)
2023 (150)
2022 (178)
2021 (121)
2020 (158)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknown2009-03-26Acquired
1999-07-20IPO
1976-01-01Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Ashley Magargee
Chief Executive Officer
Michael Laird
Vice President
Recent News
2026-01-07
MarketScreener
2026-01-06
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