Roche

Principal Scientist - Oligonucleotide Design and Chemistry

Roche$143K — $266K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or related field.
  • 3+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience in oligonucleotide chemistry.
  • Hands-on knowledge of siRNA and/or ASO therapeutics and delivery technologies.
  • Demonstrated leadership in scientific initiatives and mentoring.
  • Excellent communication skills for conveying complex concepts.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the design and synthesis of novel oligonucleotide modalities for drug discovery.
  • Mentor junior scientists in chemical synthesis and analytical characterization.
  • Collaborate with biology and biochemistry teams on assay design and data interpretation.
  • Serve as a technical authority for the nucleic-acid portfolio and communicate progress to stakeholders.
  • Manage laboratory operations and maintain cutting-edge instrumentation.
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment for scientific inquiry.

Benefits

  • Relocation benefits available.
  • Opportunity to lead and innovate in therapeutic design.
  • Collaborative and inclusive work culture.
  • Access to cutting-edge laboratory instrumentation.
  • Significant impact on science and pipeline development.
Full Job Description

The Opportunity

The Therapeutic Modalities and Technologies group in the Protein Sciences organization at Genentech is responsible for the design and generation of new therapeutic modalities that combine the engineering and analytical principles of multiple scientific disciplines. We are excited to be at the forefront of therapeutic design by generating molecules with unique mechanisms of action. We are seeking a talented and dynamic individual with extensive oligonucleotide experience to join our team as a Principal Scientist (Group Leader), and support our nucleic-acid based medicines portfolio. This role offers a significant opportunity to impact our science and pipeline by leading the design and synthesis of novel oligonucleotides for drug discovery programs. The successful candidate will be a technical leader taking on responsibilities across the portfolio.

  • Drive Pipeline Innovation: Lead the design, synthesis, purification, and characterization of novel oligonucleotide modalities (e.g., ASOs, siRNAs, saRNAs) across drug discovery programs.

  • Lead & Mentor: Guide and mentor junior scientists in chemical synthesis, troubleshooting, impurity profiling, and analytical characterization.

  • Champion Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Partner closely with biology and biochemistry teams to design in vitro/in vivo assays, interpret complex data, and facilitate rapid decision-making.

  • Shape Strategy: Serve as a technical authority across the nucleic-acid portfolio, communicating scientific progress, key milestones, and insights to multidisciplinary project teams and stakeholders.

  • Lab Excellence: Manage cutting-edge laboratory instrumentation and maintain smooth, efficient lab operations to accelerate research outcomes.

  • Inspire Team Culture:Foster an open, highly collaborative, and inclusive environment that encourages bold scientific curiosity and innovative problem-solving.

Who You Are

You are a passionate, collaborative scientific leader with deep technical expertise in oligonucleotide chemistry who thrives in a team-oriented research environment.

  • Education & Experience:Ph.D. in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Oligonucleotide Chemistry, or a closely related field, with 3+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience.

  • Modality Expertise: Strong hands-on knowledge of siRNA and/or ASO therapeutics, including synthesis, purification, analytics, and fluency with diverse backbone modifications and delivery technologies.

  • Scientific Leadership: Proven track record of leading scientific initiatives, mentoring team members, and driving cross-functional collaborations (evidenced by publications or patents).

  • Communication:Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred

  • Bioconjugation Skills: Experience in designing optimized oligonucleotide conjugates, linker discovery, or bioconjugation optimization is an asset.

This position is located in South San Francisco and is an on-site research position.

Relocation benefits are available for this job posting.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $143,200.00 - 266,000.00 USD. Annual Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

About Roche

Roche Holding AG is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has bearer shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The company headquarters are located in Basel. Roche is the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, and the leading provider of cancer treatments globally. The company also produces a range of diagnostic tests for medical professionals and patients. Roche was one of the first companies to bring targeted treatments to patients. In 2019, Roche had over 100,000 employees worldwide, and generated revenue of CHF 61.5 billion.
Learn more about Roche
Size
100,920 employees
Industry
NASDAQ

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