Chief Scientific Officer of Small Molecule Business

Atome; United States; On-site; USD 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Atome is seeking a Chief Scientific Officer for its Small Molecule Business located in the United States. This role requires extensive experience in drug R&D, emphasizing leadership and strategic partnerships.

The ideal candidate will hold a Ph.D. and possess 15+ years of experience in drug discovery, with a proven track record in leading scientific teams. Responsibilities include defining scientific strategy, overseeing portfolio management, and collaborating with AI teams to drive innovation.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in drug discovery and development with leadership roles.
• Proven history of leading scientific teams and delivering candidates into clinical development.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a comprehensive scientific strategy for small molecule research.
• Oversee the progression of internal and partnered assets, making data-driven decisions.
• Stay at the forefront of global trends in small molecule research and AI-enabled drug discovery.
• Lead and mentor a diverse team of scientists across various disciplines.
• Partner with AI teams to enhance experimental workflows.

Skills

Leadership

Scientific vision

Operational discipline

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, or related discipline

Job description

Chief Scientific Officer of Small Molecule Business

Location:United States

Experience:15+ years in drug discovery R&D

Role Summary

We’re looking for someone with extensive experience in drug R&D—ideally from a large pharma environment—who can provide scientific vision, operational discipline, and BD-savvy leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• End-to-End Leadership: Define and execute the comprehensive scientific strategy for small molecule research, covering Discovery, Target Identification, Lead Optimization, and Translational platforms.
• Portfolio Management: Oversee the progression of internal and partnered assets. Make critical data-driven decisions on candidate progression, prioritization, and portfolio diversification to maximize clinical success probability.
• Innovation: Stay at the forefront of global trends in small molecule research and AI-enabled drug discovery, ensuring XtalPi remains a competitive leader in the industry.
• Team Empowerment: Lead, mentor, and inspire a diverse team of scientists across Molecular Chemistry, Biology, Discovery, and Engineering.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with internal AI and algorithm teams. You do not need to be a coder, but you must be a champion for digital transformation.
• Workflow Optimization: Co-develop practical, problem-driven technologies. Provide the "chemist’s perspective" to ensure AI tools effectively enhance experimental workflows and accelerate decision-making cycles.
• External Engagement: Serve as the senior scientific voice of XtalPi in external engagements. Represent the company at major scientific conferences, investor meetings, and industry forums.
• Strategic Partnerships: Act as a key scientific counterpart to our Pharma and Biotech partners, driving collaboration success and identifying new business opportunities through scientific excellence.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Organic Chemistry, or a related small molecule discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in drug discovery and development, with a significant tenure in leadership roles within large pharmaceutical companies or global biotech organizations.
• Track Record: Proven history of successfully leading large scientific teams and delivering candidates from discovery into clinical development.
• Executive Presence: Exceptional communication and presentation skills. Ability to articulate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including investors, partners, and non-scientific stakeholders.
• Tech-Forward Mindset: Comfortable working at the intersection of science and technology. While prior computational experience is not required, a strong willingness to collaborate with AI teams and adopt new methodologies is essential.
• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated ability to balance scientific curiosity with business acumen and portfolio strategy.