Director or Sr Director, Medicinal Chemistry

JOB SUMMARY

We seek an experienced and creative medicinal chemist with a proven track record of success in drug discovery. Candidates should be motivated to work in an intensely collaborative, multidisciplinary, team-based setting. The role will entail coordinating a medicinal chemistry team with internal and external experimental capabilities, as well as proactively interfacing with diverse teams working on automated experimentation, ML-driven molecular generation, property predictions, and bioassay data generation. This position is located at our San Diego Headquarters.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a group of medicinal chemists and drive molecular discovery efforts to deliver development and clinical candidates.

• Devise strategies to execute hit ID, identify lead molecules and optimize them for potency, selectivity, and ADME properties using multivariant SAR analysis and hypothesis driven design principles.

• Work closely with molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, computational chemistry, DMPK, and other key functions.

• Act as a liaison between Iambic, CROs, and other external collaborators, including partnered research projects.

• Influence the prospective use of computational methods and leverage automated synthesis and high-throughput experimentation capabilities.

• Work closely with AI/ML teams to develop and implement relevant predictive models to aid in the design of new molecules.

• Contribute to platform development by collaborating with AI/ML and chemistry automation teams to enhance processes and accelerate the design–make–test (DMT) cycle.

• Communicate project updates clearly and effectively to the broader team and key stakeholders.

• Work as a senior member of the Chemistry research group and foster a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and teamwork.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with 15+ years or Masters with 18+ years of Pharma/bio-tech drug discovery experience or (portfolio of programs from hit/lead to development candidate)

• Expertise in modern synthetic organic chemistry, evidenced by high-quality publications and patents.

• Proven cross-functional leadership: integrating biology, DMPK/ADME, CADD, and CMC to build and execute strategic project plans.

• Practical experience and working knowledge of target protein degradation and associated modalities (molecular glues, PROTACS).

• Track record of program leadership advancing compounds through preclinical development (candidate nomination, IND-enabling interfaces, CRO oversight).

• Experience working with computational chemists as part of project team in design of drug targets is required.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, time management, and leadership skills.

• Experience mentoring or leading junior chemists.

• Creative problem solving and management of relationships with several stakeholders within and beyond the company.

ABOUT IAMBIC THERAPEUTICS

Iambic is a clinical-stage life-science and technology company developing novel medicines using its AI-driven discovery and development platform. Based in San Diego and founded in 2020, Iambic has assembled a world-class team that unites pioneering AI experts and experienced drug hunters. The Iambic platform has demonstrated delivery of new drug candidates to human clinical trials with unprecedented speed and across multiple target classes and mechanisms of action. Iambic is advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class and first-in-class clinical assets, both internally and in partnership, to address urgent unmet patient need. Learn more about the Iambic team, platform, pipeline, and partnerships at iambic.ai.

MISSION & CORE VALUES

Our mission is to deliver better medicines through innovations in AI-based discovery technologies. The culture and work at Iambic Therapeutics are profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our people and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. We are committed to building an inclusive environment where a diverse group of talented humans work together to discover therapeutics and create technologies.

PAY AND BENEFITS

We offer industry leading competitive pay, company paid healthcare, flexible spending accounts, voluntary life insurance, 401K matching, and uncapped vacation to our team. We are in a brand-new state-of-the art facility in beautiful San Diego with an onsite gym, dining, and easy access to great places to live and play.