Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

We are seeking a highly motivated and accomplished medicinal chemistry leader to drive drug discovery programs from Hit-to-Lead through Development Candidate nomination. This individual will not only independently lead medicinal chemistry strategy for one or more programs but also provide scientific and strategic leadership to one or more project leaders in their reporting line, demonstrating impact through advancing Neomorph's targeted protein degradation (TPD) platform and pipeline.

The successful candidate will influence scientific direction beyond their directly led programs, mentor and develop scientists and project leaders, and help strengthen scientific decision-making and medicinal chemistry capabilities across the organization. They will bring strong strategic judgment and communication skills to multidisciplinary drug discovery teams spanning chemistry, biology, analytical sciences, pharmacology, DMPK, and toxicology.

Role and Responsibilities
• Independently lead medicinal chemistry programs from Hit-to-Lead through Lead Optimization and Development Candidate nomination, while concurrently mentoring direct-report project leaders to achieve key milestones and deliver on drug discovery programs.
• Influence and advise other project leaders and apply learnings across programs to improve scientific strategy and portfolio decisions.
• Guide project teams in defining key scientific questions, critical experiments, interpreting multidisciplinary data, assessing risk, and making clear progression decisions.
• Develop medicinal chemistry strategies to balance potency, selectivity, physicochemical properties, ADME/DMPK, safety, and developability.
• Contribute directly to compound design, experimental planning, data analysis, and synthetic problem-solving.
• Partner with biology, pharmacology, analytical sciences, DMPK, toxicology, CMC, and other functions to execute integrated project plans.
• Mentor medicinal chemists and project leaders to develop scientific judgment, strategic thinking, and project leadership capabilities.
• Communicate strategies, results, risks, and recommendations to project teams and senior leadership.
• Manage external chemistry CROs and other external partners, including defining project scope, communicating scientific objectives, prioritizing activities, evaluating deliverables, and ensuring high-quality and timely execution.
• Contribute to intellectual property, publications, and external scientific communications while upholding rigorous scientific and safety standards.
• Maintain high standards of scientific rigor, laboratory safety, and documentation.

Required Qualifications
• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant industry experience; M.S. with 11+ years; or B.S. with 14+ years of relevant experience.
• Track record of independently leading medicinal chemistry programs through major drug discovery decisions, including Development Candidate nomination.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop scientists to achieve key project milestones.
• Strong command of medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, and structure-based and ligand-based drug design.
• Demonstrated success in multiparameter optimization and in translating complex data into actionable project strategies.
• Demonstrated scientific creativity, sound judgment, and a strong track record of solving complex chemistry challenges.
• Ability to influence programs beyond those directly led and to mentor scientists and project leaders across the organization.
• Effective collaboration across disciplines and with senior leadership, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing external CROs and chemistry partners, and contributing to intellectual property strategy.

Preferred Qualifications
• Strong passion for innovative drug discovery and emerging therapeutic modalities, particularly targeted protein degradation.
• Experience advancing small-molecule programs from Hit Identification through Development Candidate nomination.
• Experience across multiple programs or novel biological mechanisms, including contributions to patents or scientific publications.

What we offer:

• Industry-competitive compensation
• Annual target bonus
• Stock options
• 401K plan
• Career advancement opportunities
• Monthly town halls to share business and scientific updates

Work Hard, Stay Well

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and their dependents
• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with a monthly Neomorph contribution
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 holidays + Winter Shutdown + 3 weeks of vacation time with additional accruals after 2nd year of employment, separate sick leave.
• Supplemental pay for Pregnancy Disability Leave
• Paid Parental Leave for employees with a newborn child or a child placed with them for adoption or foster care

Lifestyle

• Casual work environment
• Volunteer days off each year to spend time contributing to causes you care about
• Flexible work schedule
• Access to a state-of-the-art gym

Have Fun!

We believe in work/life balance, and Fun is at the core of our Core Values. In addition to department and company happy hours, we have regular company-wide and department lunches and social events (e.g., Padres games, summer picnic, holiday party, bring-your-kids-to-work day).

Neomorph is headquartered in San Diego, California.