Principal Scientist, Computational Chemistry

Cogent Biosciences; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% medical, dental, and vision premiums covered

401(k) match with immediate vesting

Generous paid time off

Paid parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Cogent Biosciences in Boulder, Colorado is seeking an Experienced Computational Chemist to lead in drug design and molecular modeling efforts. This role involves applying structure-based drug design methods and collaborating with project teams to optimize therapeutic leads.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry and relevant industrial experience, showcasing a strong proficiency in computational approaches and tools. The position offers a competitive salary of $165k - $190k and additional bonuses, with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant industrial experience.
• Familiarity with molecular representations and cheminformatics standards.
• Solid publication record and excellent scientific communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Apply drug design methods including docking and modeling.
• Collaborate in structure-based drug design cycles.
• Present modeling insights to project teams.
• Develop computational workflows on HPC environments.
• Train and mentor colleagues on computational tools.

Skills

Structure-based design

Docking

Virtual screening

Pharmacophore modeling

Cheminformatics tools

Programming skills

Linux/UNIX

HPC frameworks

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry or related field

Tools

MOE modeling software

Spotfire

Job description

Who We Are

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on developing novel precision therapies to treat a broad range of patients with unmet medical needs. Cogent’s lead program, bezuclastinib, is designed to selectively and potently inhibit exon 17 mutations found within the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, including KIT D816V. KIT D816V is responsible for driving a rare and serious condition called Systemic Mastocytosis, and exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Bezuclastinib has exhibited promising initial data across all three trials: APEX in AdvSM, SUMMIT in NonAdvSM, and PEAK in GIST, including an encouraging safety profile across 600+ patients in single-agent and combination dosing.

The Role

We are seeking an Experienced Computational Chemist who thrives at the intersection of molecular modeling, data‑driven decision making, and innovative drug design. In this role, you will directly influence discovery programs by generating actionable structure‑based insights, developing predictive models, and partnering with multidisciplinary teams to guide molecular design from hits to optimized leads. This is a full‑time, on‑site position based at our R&D facility in Boulder, Colorado.

Responsibilities

• Apply structure‑based and ligand‑based drug design methods—including docking, protein modeling, and a range of computational techniques—to support projects from hit discovery through lead optimization.
• Collaborate with project team members, engaging them in iterative structure‑based drug design cycles to generate hypotheses, evaluate targets, triage hits, and guide SAR exploration.
• Present modeling insights clearly and effectively to cross‑functional project teams, ensuring data is interpreted in the right context.
• Develop, refine, and maintain robust computational workflows on HPC Linux environments, enabling scalable execution of large‑scale simulations.
• Train and mentor colleagues on computational chemistry tools, cheminformatics standards, data formats, and key workflow practices.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry or a related field, with 3+ years of relevant industrial experience.
• Expertise in structure‑based design, docking, virtual screening, pharmacophore modeling, and other computational approaches for lead optimization.
• Expertise in MOE modeling software, with working knowledge of other commercial and open‑source computational chemistry platforms preferred.
• Strong hands‑on experience with cheminformatics platforms and tools, including Spotfire.
• Strong programming skills with experience in building custom scripts or automated pipelines, is a plus.
• Proficiency in Linux/UNIX, shell scripting, and HPC frameworks (e.g., SLURM, LSF, PBS/Torque).
• Experience optimizing large computational workloads on cluster or cloud infrastructure.
• Familiarity with molecular representations and cheminformatics standards (SMILES, SDF, descriptors, fragment‑based encodings).
• A solid publication record and excellent scientific communication skills.
• Proven effectiveness working within cross‑functional, data‑driven scientific teams.

Salary Range

$165k - 190k USD as the base salary.

Target Bonus: 15%

Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Our Locations

Waltham, MA: Our headquarters is located in the Greater Boston life sciences community, with an open, collaborative office environment designed to support teamwork and connection. Employees benefit from convenient on‑site amenities, including free on‑site parking and gym facilities in the building.

Boulder, CO: Our Boulder location is home to Cogent’s discovery research organization and a key scientific hub with strong leadership based on site. Situated in the greater Denver‑Boulder biopharmaceutical corridor, this office plays a central role in advancing our discovery efforts and pipeline.

Our Offer To You

At Cogent Biosciences, we offer a competitive salary, bonus, and ongoing stock awards, alongside a benefits package that sets us apart. We cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your family, and help reduce out‑of‑pocket costs by funding up to 75% of in‑network deductibles. Our benefits also include a 401(k) match with immediate vesting, generous paid time off, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, paid family and medical leave for all employees regardless of location, and company‑paid short‑term disability coverage for up to 20 weeks. Additional perks like wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and inclusive family‑forming support help you thrive at work and beyond.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.