Senior/Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Job Description

Job DescriptionPsiThera is seeking a talented and creative medicinal chemist with a strong track record of advancing small molecule projects from initial hits through to development candidate selection to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team. Our science and our team are focused on combining medicinal chemistry with our cutting-edge computational platform to rapidly identify and optimize molecules into innovative medicines for patients.
We are looking for a self-motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment that integrates computational and experimental data to drive our programs to the clinic. The ideal candidate will have direct experience integrating a deep knowledge of synthetic and medicinal chemistry with in silico drug discovery methods to perform multiparameter optimization, including ADME/PK considerations, and rapidly advance programs from hit identification to lead selection to development candidate nomination. A successful candidate will have strong synthetic chemistry skills, expertise in creative and practical small molecule design, experience guiding teams of CRO chemists and excellent communication skills to present strategies and results to the broader team. This individual will report to the Director of Medicinal Chemistry and collaborate closely across functions including computational chemistry, biophysics, structural biology, and biology teams to provide actionable insights and strategic guidance. Key Responsibilities

• Advance small molecule programs from hit selection to development candidate selection
• In collaboration with CADD, biophysics, structural biology and biology design small molecules to achieve program goals and meet timelines
• Plan, prioritize and implement synthetic and medicinal chemistry
• Manage teams of external synthetic chemists to ensure timely delivery of complex target molecules for biological testing
• Review analytical data to ensure identity and quality of samples
• Stay current with chemistry, medicinal chemistry and project-relevant literature as well as with new patent application filings.

Requirements

• Minimum qualifications: 3-5 years experience driving small molecule discovery programs from hit to lead through lead optimization as demonstrated by peer reviewed publications and/or inventorship status on patent applications
• Preferred qualifications: 5-10 years experience with experience driving small molecule discovery programs from hit to lead through development candidate selection. Experience with project leadership is a plus
• BS, MS or PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a closely related field
• Proven track record of creative solutions to solve medicinal chemistry challenges
• Firsthand experience in structure-based and computer-aided drug discovery
• Experience with working collaboratively across drug discovery disciplines, including biology, structural biology, computational chemistry and biophysics
• Experience leading and managing teams of external chemists
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work well in a multidisciplinary environment
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with a strong passion for learning new concepts and technologies

Additional Qualifications

• Experience as a project team lead
• Direct experience with DEL screen follow-up and fragment-based drug discovery
• Experience with progressing programs through lead optimization for immunology targets
• Familiarity with molecular modeling tools
• Proficiency with data analysis tools (Spotfire, KNIME)

PsiThera offers a competitive base salary plus discretionary annual bonus and company ownership through stock options. We also support employees with subsidized medical/dental/vision insurance, 20 days vacation, and a 401k match. Salary for this opportunity will be commensurate with experience.About PsiThera PsiThera is creating better therapeutics through an integrated molecular design paradigm that leverages best-in-class physics-based and AI technologies honed through decades of research and innovation.  Our focus is first-in-class inflammation and immunology (I&I) small molecule therapeutics. We have assembled a diverse team with extensive experience across disciplines ranging from physics and computer science to chemistry, biology, biochemistry, and structural biology.  This continuum of complementary skills drives our scientific vision to deliver meaningful therapeutics to patients in need.  We are patient-inspired, perseverant, synergistic, supportive, intrepid, and inclusive.
If you’re passionate about advancing medicine in a fast-paced, innovative environment, and eager to contribute to a team that blends advanced computation with drug discovery, PsiThera might be the perfect fit for you. At PsiThera, we are a lean, high-performing team dedicated to pushing boundaries and achieving growth—both personally and scientifically.  We seek individuals who are smart, collaborative, and thrive in a dynamic, early-stage biotech environment.
Read More About Us ·       Our Story:             https://psithera.com/company/ ·       Platform: https://psithera.com/quaisar-platform/ ·       Team:                   https://psithera.com/company/team-and-leadership/ Psivant Therapeutics, Inc. (d/b/a PsiThera) is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations, ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes and kindly request that recruiters do not contact our team regarding this job posting. If a resume is submitted without a prior agreement, we will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fees. Thank you for your understanding!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.