Calico Life Sciences · 1 month ago
Senior Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry
South San Francisco, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$166K/yr - $191K/yr
5+ years expCalico is an Alphabet-founded research and development company focused on understanding human aging. The Senior Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry will design and synthesize novel small molecules, lead collaborations, and contribute to the discovery of new medicines across various therapeutic areas.
Responsibilities
Leverage expertise in organic and medicinal chemistry to design and synthesize novel small molecules, identifying potential drug candidates
Proactively monitor and interpret biological testing, ADME characterization, and hit-to-lead/lead optimization profiling data to propose and execute innovative strategies for improving key drug attributes in a multi-parameter optimization fashion and identifying new target molecules
Independently lead and collaborate with external synthetic teams, ensuring excellence, high productivity, and agile prioritization
Effectively tackle, evaluate, and communicate research findings and project progress to chemistry, cross-functional teams, and senior leadership, enabling informed go/no-go decisions
Author and contribute to patent applications, study reports, and scientific publications
Qualification
Required
Ph.D./postdoctoral experience in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry with 5+ years of progressive experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment
Extensive working knowledge and practical application of modern medicinal chemistry and drug discovery techniques (e.g., hit finding technologies, structure-based drug design (SBDD), computational chemistry, and advanced multi-parameter optimization of target and druglike attributes, physicochemical, and ADME properties)
Proven track record of success across all phases of small molecule drug discovery, from hit identification through lead optimization
Successfully managed CRO chemistry teams, resulting in sustained high-quality output and enhanced productivity that directly contributed to positive project outcomes
Expertise in complex molecule synthesis and methods development, including multi-step synthesis, purification, and spectroscopic analysis techniques
Demonstrated achievements in delivering novel molecules to development candidate nomination, both individually and as part of a team
Strong publication and patent record in medicinal chemistry
Proven ability to effectively lead and manage external medicinal chemistry and synthetic chemistry partners
Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and highly adaptable individual with the ability to quickly identify core project challenges and pivot strategies in a fast-paced environment
Excellent team player with a proven ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment
Commitment to excellence, meticulous record-keeping, and strong data organization skills
Exceptional oral communication and writing skills
Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week
Preferred
Prior experience as a chemistry team leader on a project from hit identification to preclinical nomination
Experience with covalent inhibitors, targeted protein degradation and proximity inducing agents
Experience with various hit identification technologies, including fragment-based drug design (FBDD), DNA-encoded library (DEL), high-throughput screening (HTS), virtual ligand screening (VLS), and de novo drug design
Experience implementing or leveraging AI/ML tools for hit identification, lead optimization, retrosynthesis planning, or predictive ADME/Tox modeling
Familiarity with contemporary synthetic and analytical chemistry techniques and technologies including high through-put experimentation (HTE) methodologies
Benefits
Two annual cash bonuses
Company
Calico Life Sciences
Calico is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Calico Life Sciences 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 (12)
2024 (12)
2023 (7)
2022 (10)
2021 (5)
2020 (14)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Ashley Archuleta
Sr. Administrative Assistant to the Chief Business Officer
Jonathan Lewis
Chief Business Officer
Recent News
Research & Development World
2026-01-23
2026-01-22
2025-11-15
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