Member of Technical Staff, Small Molecule Discovery

LatchBio

$250K — $400K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Extensive hands-on experience in small molecule drug discovery, including medicinal chemistry, DMPK, or translation.
  • Proven track record of guiding small molecule programs through critical decision-making processes.
  • Ability to articulate and defend strong opinions on best practices within the field.
  • Willingness to build a new function rather than simply fill a position.

Responsibilities

  • Author and deliver small molecule benchmarks on the roadmap.
  • Act as the final reviewer for all small molecule claims at Latch.
  • Explore collaboration opportunities for running drug programs in the lab.
  • Work with CROs to gather data to inform benchmark design.
  • Develop a function that includes building a team and establishing partnerships.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage with a Blue Shield Platinum plan, fully paid premiums, no deductible.
  • Provision of daily meals, including lunch and dinner.
  • Support for travel and accommodation for scientific conferences and networking events.
  • Long-term incentive plans that include equity and 401(k) contributions.
Full Job Description
Member of Technical Staff, Small Molecule Discovery
The role

You will be Latch's authority on small molecule drug discovery and development, from hit to IND. You will own the small molecule benchmarks on our roadmap and decide what correct work looks like across medicinal chemistry, DMPK, safety, and translation.

This is a new function at Latch. You will define what it needs as much as you will execute it.
What you will do
  • Author and ship the small molecule benchmarks on our roadmap: SmallMolecule-Development-TxBench, SmallMolecule-Translation-TxBench, and the SmallMolecule-TxBench-Long flagship.
  • Be the scientific authority at Latch for all things small molecule. Before Latch makes a claim about a small molecule program, you are the final reviewer.
  • Potentially collaborate on and run drug programs in the wet lab, guiding discovery and development workflows. We are considering running agent-directed drug programs in a real lab.
  • Work with CROs to run experiments and gather data that inform the design of our benchmarks and agents.
  • Build a function beyond yourself: advisors, partners, and a hiring plan.
What we look for
  • You have spent years working hands-on on small molecule programs, in medicinal chemistry, DMPK, or translation, and have carried programs through real decisions.
  • You have strong, defensible opinions about what correct work looks like in your field.
  • You want to build a function, not fill a seat.
The interview

One interview will be a detailed discussion of a small molecule program you know well: the chemical series, its liabilities, and how they were solved or why they were not.
Location

This is a full-time, in-person position at our waterfront office in China Basin, San Francisco. The team works from the office five days a week. The role is not hybrid or remote.
Compensation and benefits
  • Total compensation ranges from $250,000 to $400,000, depending on experience.
  • We believe in long-term incentive plans and provide equity and 401(k) contributions.
  • Benefits include a Blue Shield Platinum health plan with 100% of premiums covered, no deductible, and no out-of-pocket costs.
  • Daily meals, including lunch and dinner, are provided. Travel and accommodations for scientific conferences and other professional networking trips are included.

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