Senior Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist to join our Medicinal Chemistry team. This critical role involves addressing challenging disease targets through the application of a variety of small molecule strategies and therapeutic modalities, contributing directly to the discovery of new medicines across Calico’s diverse therapeutic areas. The ideal candidate will expertly drive the design and synthesis of lead compounds, apply a comprehensive understanding of medicinal chemistry, actively contribute to the management of external collaborations, and champion practical, cutting-edge methods and synthetic tactics within Calico’s discovery programs.

Responsibilities:

• Leverage expertise in organic and medicinal chemistry to design and synthesize novel small molecules, identifying potential drug candidates

• Proactively monitor and interpret biological testing, ADME characterization, and hit-to-lead/lead optimization profiling data to propose and execute innovative strategies for improving key drug attributes in a multi-parameter optimization fashion and identifying new target molecules

• Independently lead and collaborate with external synthetic teams, ensuring excellence, high productivity, and agile prioritization

• Effectively tackle, evaluate, and communicate research findings and project progress to chemistry, cross-functional teams, and senior leadership, enabling informed go/no-go decisions

• Author and contribute to patent applications, study reports, and scientific publications

Position Requirements:

• Ph.D./postdoctoral experience in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry with 5+ years of progressive experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment

• Extensive working knowledge and practical application of modern medicinal chemistry and drug discovery techniques (e.g., hit finding technologies, structure-based drug design (SBDD), computational chemistry, and advanced multi-parameter optimization of target and druglike attributes, physicochemical, and ADME properties)

• Proven track record of success across all phases of small molecule drug discovery, from hit identification through lead optimization

• Successfully managed CRO chemistry teams, resulting in sustained high-quality output and enhanced productivity that directly contributed to positive project outcomes

• Prior experience as a chemistry team leader on a project from hit identification to preclinical nomination preferred

• Expertise in complex molecule synthesis and methods development, including multi-step synthesis, purification, and spectroscopic analysis techniques

• Demonstrated achievements in delivering novel molecules to development candidate nomination, both individually and as part of a team

• Strong publication and patent record in medicinal chemistry

• Proven ability to effectively lead and manage external medicinal chemistry and synthetic chemistry partners

• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and highly adaptable individual with the ability to quickly identify core project challenges and pivot strategies in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent team player with a proven ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary environment

• Commitment to excellence, meticulous record-keeping, and strong data organization skills

• Exceptional oral communication and writing skills

• Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week

Nice to Have:

• Experience with covalent inhibitors, targeted protein degradation and proximity inducing agents

• Experience with various hit identification technologies, including fragment-based drug design (FBDD), DNA-encoded library (DEL), high-throughput screening (HTS), virtual ligand screening (VLS), and de novo drug design

• Experience implementing or leveraging AI/ML tools for hit identification, lead optimization, retrosynthesis planning, or predictive ADME/Tox modeling

• Familiarity with contemporary synthetic and analytical chemistry techniques and technologies including high through-put experimentation (HTE) methodologies

The estimated base salary range for this role is $166,000 - $191,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.