Senior Cheminformatics Scientist

Placements24; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Performance bonuses

Training and conference support

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Cheminformatics Scientist to lead computational chemistry efforts in East London, driving drug discovery through predictive modeling, virtual screening, and data integration. You will collaborate with medicinal chemists and biologists to accelerate candidate identification, optimize workflows, and maintain robust data pipelines.

The role requires a PhD and 5+ years in industry, with strong Python programming and hands-on experience in RDKit/OpenEye, SAR, and machine

Qualifications

• PhD in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computer Science, or related field.
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Skills

Python programming

Molecular modeling

SAR analysis

Virtual screening

Data analysis

Machine learning

Communication

Independent work

Education

PhD in Cheminformatics/Computational Chemistry/ Pharmaceutical Sciences/ Computer Science

Tools

RDKit

OpenEye

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a leading biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of drug discovery and development. We are seeking an experienced Senior Cheminformatics Scientist to join our innovative Computational Chemistry and Drug Discovery team in East London. This role is critical in applying computational methods and data science techniques to accelerate the identification and optimization of novel drug candidates. You will work with large chemical and biological datasets, developing predictive models, designing virtual screening strategies, and supporting medicinal chemistry efforts. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and data analysis, contributing significantly to our pipeline of innovative therapeutics. Join us in East London, Eastern Cape, and play a key role in the discovery of life-changing medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement cheminformatics tools and workflows for compound library analysis, virtual screening, and property prediction.
• Design and execute computational approaches to support lead identification and optimization programs.
• Integrate diverse chemical and biological data sources to build predictive models for compound activity, ADMET properties, and toxicity.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and other computational scientists to drive drug discovery projects.
• Maintain and curate chemical databases and knowledge management systems.
• Visualize and analyze chemical structures and biological activity data to generate actionable insights.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and drug discovery methodologies.
• Contribute to scientific publications and presentations, sharing research findings with the broader scientific community.
• Ensure the quality, integrity, and reproducibility of computational analyses and data.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of industry experience in cheminformatics, with a focus on drug discovery.
• Proven expertise in applying computational methods to chemical and biological data.
• Strong programming skills in Python or similar languages, with experience in cheminformatics toolkits (e.g., RDKit, OpenEye).
• Experience with molecular modeling, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, and virtual screening techniques.
• Proficiency in database management and querying (e.g., SQL).
• Familiarity with machine learning techniques applied to chemical data is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Experience with cloud computing environments is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and performance bonuses. The East London facility provides a state-of-the-art research environment with excellent collaborative opportunities. We are committed to fostering professional growth through ongoing training, support for attending scientific conferences, and pathways for career advancement. This role offers the chance to contribute directly to the discovery of novel therapeutics and make a meaningful impact on global health. Join our team in East London, Eastern Cape, and be part of a company that is passionate about innovation and scientific excellence.