Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

Company: Carlo Hefti AG
Location: San Francisco
Posted on: May 1, 2025

Job Description:

Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Medicinal Chemistrytl;drGeneral Proximity is a seed-stage startup developing the next generation of induced proximity medicines (IPMs). Our OmniTAC drug discovery engine furnishes molecules that co-opt existing cellular machinery to overcome therapeutic challenges, which have remained unapproachable to other modalities for decades.We are seeking first-rate medicinal chemists to help us pioneer this uncharted frontier of drug discovery.Our StoryA long-standing challenge in drug discovery is the development of molecules capable of modulating difficult or "undruggable" targets. Disease-causing proteins can be dysfunctional in many different ways, but our armamentarium for fixing them is quite limited. The most common mechanism of action for FDA-approved drugs is inhibition, but there are many other possible perturbation types whose potential remains unrealized.General Proximity is a seed-stage drug discovery company developing a novel platform technology to solve this problem. We make bifunctional drugs that induce the modification of drug targets by existing cellular machinery (rather than through direct modulation by the drug, the classical approach).The PositionWe are seeking an experienced medicinal chemist to be a founding member of our Chemistry/Drug Discovery Team. In this position, you will work in close conjunction with our Biology/Platform Teams in the development of our core drug discovery technology and the generation of a completely novel class of therapeutics.Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising synthetic efforts with our CROs.
• Designing and optimizing first-in-class bifunctional molecules.
• Collaborating with our Drug Discovery and IP team on patent applications.
• Providing input for mechanistic studies on lead drug molecules.
• Spearheading forays into new disease areas.About YouHigh Agency. Initiative, independence, and self-accountability are some of our most valued traits.Enthusiastic. We love people who are excited about what they are doing and are generally attempting to build a high-energy team.Intensity and Grit. Early-stage startups are hard. Drug discovery is doubly so. We are looking for candidates who have a demonstrated ability to stick with complex problems for the long haul, with a team that has your back along the way.Prosocial. We are here to create life-saving medicines for the patients who need it most. You should be, too.Qualifications & Nice-To-Haves

• PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Pharmacology, or related field.
• Industry experience is desirable, but the ability to work hard and learn fast is more important to us.
• Deep understanding of small-molecule drug discovery and its relationship to human disease.
• Top-notch written and oral communication skills.
• Strong experience with:
  • Designing, synthesizing, and optimizing induced proximity medicines (e.g. PROTACs or other IPMs).
  • Contributing to hit-to-lead and lead optimization studies.
  • Med-chem optimizations: SAR, PK/PD, strong understanding of DMPK.
  • Experience with some chemical biology or structural biology laboratory techniques (assay set up, compound testing, pulldown, protein purification, SPR, crystallography etc.) or strong experience in computational chemistry.
  • Nice to have:
    • Proficiency in HTS and phenotypic assay development.
    • Proteomics experience: PTM analysis, chemo-proteomic target deconvolution, etc.
    • Computational or molecular dynamics drug discovery experience.
    • DEL experience.
    • Experience managing others, especially synthetic chemistry CRO teams.
    • Prior experience on teams that have successfully advanced research to the clinic.About UsWork Hard/Play Hard. We believe time is our most valuable commodity, so we strive to create a culture that reflects this. We won't drag you through unnecessary meetings or email you at 7 PM on a Saturday. When we're at work, we're there to get things done, and when we're off, we're really off.Strong Communication. We like well-written documents over PowerPoints, OKRs over vague mission statements, and weekly one-on-ones over yearly reviews.Writing First. We have a "writing-first" culture. We believe that clarity of writing reflects clarity of thinking and that the benefits of well-written documentation in a scientific environment are innumerable: democratization of ideation and decision-making, increased reproducibility, quicker scaling and onboarding, and better company-wide alignment, to name a few.Growth. As an early-stage startup, we value scientists with an independent, can-do attitude. The more hats you can wear, the better. Our job as employers is to put you in positive feedback loops so you can grow in the direction of your choosing.Title and compensation commensurate with experience. Applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds, women, and members of underrepresented minority groups are particularly welcomed. We look forward to hearing from you. :)
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Keywords: Carlo Hefti AG, Redwood City , Scientist/Sr. Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry, Other , San Francisco, California