Director, Drug Discovery & Target ID (LNP-mRNA)

ADP, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 191,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Equity via Stock Options

Health benefits

Annual cash awards

Job summary

Arcturus Therapeutics is seeking a Director/Senior Director of Drug Discovery & Target Identification to lead target validation and discovery programs. This role focuses on expanding our LNP-mRNA platform for therapeutic protein delivery across diseases, with responsibility for strategy, resource allocation, and portfolio management.

The candidate will apply advanced AI, biostatistics, and translational biomarkers to drive preclinical-to-clinical progress, coordinating cross-functionally and

Qualifications

• PhD with 12–15+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech drug discovery.
• Proven track record as a Drug Hunter leading discovery teams.
• Experience applying AI in drug development and biostatistics.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing team to identify novel target pathways and validate targets.
• Scale discovery platform from rare diseases toward broader indications.
• Integrate advanced technologies, AI, and biostatistics to identify candidates.
• Define biological hypotheses and select preclinical models for development.
• Collaborate across development teams to advance LNP-mRNA drug candidates.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders to plan programs efficiently.

Skills

Team Leadership

AI in drug discovery

Biostatistics

Target identification

Preclinical development

Portfolio management

Pharmacology expertise

mRNA therapeutics

LNP delivery platforms

Strategic communication

Education

PhD in a relevant field

12–15+ years pharma/biotech experience

Tools

Biostatistics software

In silico modeling tools

AI platforms

Job description

Arcturus Therapeutics is seeking a Director/Senior Director of Drug Discovery & Target Identification to lead target validation and discovery programs. This role focuses on expanding our LNP-mRNA platform for therapeutic protein delivery across diseases, with responsibility for strategy, resource allocation, and portfolio management.

The candidate will apply advanced AI, biostatistics, and translational biomarkers to drive preclinical-to-clinical progress, coordinating cross-functionally and