Oligo Discovery Chemistry Principal Scientist

GlaxoSmithKline; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 121,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Vacation

Parental leave

Medical leave

Job summary

GSK’s Cambridge, MA team is seeking a PhD-trained chemist to help establish pre-clinical oligonucleotide conjugation capabilities. You will develop conjugates with ASOs, siRNA, SSO, and RNA editors, advancing small molecule and lipid chemistries at scale.

The role is full-time on-site, with hands-on synthesis, SOP development, and cross-team collaboration. Candidates should have 3+ years post-PhD in chemistry or chemical biology, plus 2+ years in modern synthetic methods and oligonucleotide

Qualifications

• PhD with 3+ years’ experience in chemistry, oligonucleotide synthesis, or chemical biology.
• 2+ years of industry experience in modern synthetic chemistry methods, particularly with small molecules, lipids, linkers, amidite synthesis, purification, and analysis.
• Experience with HPLC purification techniques such as reverse phase, size exclusion, ionic chromatography and LC/MS analytics.
• Experience in lipid, PEG-lipid, sterol, dinucleotide, and amidite synthetic chemistry, and familiarity with RNA therapeutics (e.g. ASO, siRNA, SSO, RNA Editors, mRNA).
• Team-focused with initiative and ability to troubleshoot challenges and implement novel solutions.
• Prior experience with mentorship and project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Establish pre-clinical oligonucleotide conjugation capabilities of ASOs, siRNA, SSO, and RNA editors with small molecules, lipids, linkers, and other conjugates with multistep synthesis from milligram to gram scale.
• Perform hands-on work, establish small molecule, lipid, linker, and other synthetic workflows including SAR studies, implementing routes, and drafting SOPs in support of next generation chemistry.
• Serve as the small molecule and lipid SME for the team, representing conjugates in cross matrix meetings.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for synthesis, processing, and purification to ensure high-quality, reproducible results.
• Work with oligo analytical and conjugate chemistry teams to ensure accountability and excellence in small molecule and lipid conjugate synthesis.
• Collaborate across teams to design robust study designs and workflows.

Skills

Analytical Chemistry

Data Analysis

Design Thinking

Drug Design

Drug Discovery Process

Medicinal Chemistry

Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Education

PhD in Chemistry or related field

Tools

HPLC purification

LC/MS analytics

AKTA purification systems

Job description

Business Introduction

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting‑edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Job Description

The successful candidate will help to establish pre-clinical capabilities within GSK’s new oligo synthesis lab. Areas of focus are producing small molecules, lipids, and linkers for ASOs, siRNA, SSO, and RNA editors conjugates, discovery chemistry, and method development. Your expertise will enable us to solve complex chemical challenges, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in oligonucleotide therapeutics.

Responsibilities

This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:

Establish pre-clinical oligonucleotide conjugation capabilities of ASOs, siRNA, SSO, and RNA editors with small molecules, lipids, linkers, and other conjugates with multistep synthesis from the milligram to gram scale.

Perform hands‑on work, establish small molecule, lipid, linker, and other synthetic workflows including designing structure activity relationship studies, implementing synthetic routes, and drafting SOPs in support of next generation chemistry and method development.

Serve as the small molecule and lipid SME for the team, representing conjugates in various cross matrix meetings.

Develop and maintain SOPs for synthesis, processing, and purification to ensure high‑quality, reproducible results.

Work with the oligo analytical and conjugate chemistry teams to ensure accountability and excellence in small molecule and lipid conjugate synthesis.

Collaborate and communicate across various teams to build robust study designs and workflows, or leverage internal resources to deliver on portfolio endpoints.

Why You?

Basic Qualification

• PhD with 3+ years’ experience in chemistry, oligonucleotide synthesis, or chemical biology or related fields.


• 2+ years of industry experience in modern synthetic chemistry methods, particularly with small molecules, lipids, linkers, amidite synthesis, purification, and analysis.


• Experience with HPLC purification techniques such as reverse phase, size exclusion, ionic chromatography potentially using Agilent, Waters, or Cytiva ÄKTA Avant and Pure purification systems, and LC/MS analytics.


• Experience in lipid, PEG‑lipid, sterol, dinucleotide, and amidite synthetic chemistry, and biological familiarity of RNA therapeutics (e.g. ASO, siRNA, SSO, RNA Editors, mRNA).


• Team‑focused with strong initiative and ability to troubleshoot challenges and implement novel solutions.


• Prior experience with scientific and professional mentorship and project leadership.

Preferred Qualification

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a team are required.


• Prior experience with oligonucleotide synthesis and nucleoside chemistry is desirable but not required.


• Demonstrable sense of urgency, flexibility, independence and accountability.


• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of integrity while balancing multiple priorities and responsibilities.


• Must be a committed team player prepared to work in and embrace a team‑based culture.

Working arrangement

This role is fulltime on‑site at our Cambridge MA offices.

What we value in you

We value curiosity, accountability, and respectful collaboration. We look for practical problem solvers who communicate clearly and act with scientific rigour.

We welcome people with varied backgrounds and perspectives who will strengthen our inclusive team.

Skills

Analytical Chemistry, Data Analysis, Design Thinking, Drug Design, Drug Discovery Process, Medicinal Chemistry, Synthetic Organic Chemistry

If you are based in Cambridge, MA; Waltham, MA; Rockville, MD; or San Francisco, CA, the annual base salary for new hires in this position ranges $121,275 to $202,125.

The US salary ranges take into account a number of factors including work location within the US market, the candidate’s skills, experience, education level and the market rate for the role.

In addition, this position offers an annual bonus and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program which is dependent on the level of the role.

Available benefits include health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and paid caregiver/parental and medical leave.

If salary ranges are not displayed in the job posting for a specific country, the relevant compensation will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Please visit GSK US Benefits Summary to learn more about the comprehensive benefits program GSK offers US employees.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive.

We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines.

We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.

People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most.

Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.

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We are a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive.

Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive.

We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included.

Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing.

So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

Find out more on our career site.