Scientist I/II, Medicinal Chemistry

OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Stock option grants

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

A clinical-stage biotechnology company in San Diego is seeking a Scientist I/II in Medicinal Chemistry to lead the design and synthesis of small molecules to support RNAi therapeutic development. Candidates should have a Ph.D. or M.S. with significant industry experience, strong skills in synthetic organic chemistry, and proficiency with various analytical techniques. This role offers a competitive salary and benefits, along with opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in small-molecule drug design is crucial.
• Strong background in synthetic organic chemistry is required.
• Demonstrated ability to optimize molecules for potency and selectivity.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules for RNAi therapeutic development.
• Document research results in SOPs and technical reports.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Small-molecule drug design

Analytical methods (UHPLC, LC/MS, NMR, UV-Vis)

Communication skills

Teamwork skills

Education

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry or related field

M.S. with 5+ years small-molecule industry experience

Tools

UHPLC

LC/MS

NMR

UV-Vis

Job description

OliX Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing next-generation RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. Founded in 2010, OliX is publicly traded in Korea and collaborates globally to advance transformative RNA medicines.

At the heart of OliX’s innovation is our proprietary asymmetric siRNA (asiRNA) platform, enabling precise, durable gene silencing with minimized off-target effects. Delivery platforms include:

• GalNAc-asiRNA for liver-targeted therapies
• cp-asiRNA for local delivery in skin, eye, and lung indications

This broad technology base supports pursuing undruggable targets across metabolic disease, dermatology, ophthalmology, and fibrosis. Our clinical pipeline includes:

• OLX75016 – Phase I for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis, partnered with Eli Lilly
• OLX72021 – Phase I completed for androgenetic alopecia (hair loss)
• OLX10212 – Phase I for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the U.S.

Strategic partnerships with Eli Lilly, L’Oréal, and Hansoh Pharmaceutical help accelerate growth and discovery. OliX is committed to creating transformative therapies for patients worldwide.

Job Summary

OliX is seeking a Scientist I/II, Medicinal Chemistry to lead small-molecule design and synthesis in support of our expanding RNAi therapeutic pipeline. The successful candidate will focus on creating novel small molecules—including delivery enhancers, conjugation partners, and pharmacological modulators—that complement and advance OliX’s RNAi medicines.

This role offers the opportunity to apply classical medicinal chemistry expertise in a cutting-edge environment, directly contributing to discovery and clinical programs arising from partnerships with Eli Lilly, L’Oréal, and Hansoh Pharmaceutical.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules to support RNAi therapeutic development, including delivery enhancers, conjugation partners, and pharmacological modulators
• Execute synthetic strategies for nucleoside and nucleotide building blocks
• Develop innovative bio-conjugation strategies linking RNAi molecules with small molecules or peptides
• Perform advanced analytical characterization (UHPLC, LC/MS, NMR, UV-Vis)
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation
• Document research results in SOPs, batch records, technical reports, and presentations
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams spanning medicinal chemistry, RNAi chemistry, and biology
• Maintain safe and efficient laboratory operations

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related field (0–3 years postdoc/industry) or M.S. with 5+ years of relevant small-molecule industry experience
• Strong background in synthetic organic chemistry and small-molecule drug design
• Demonstrated ability to apply medicinal chemistry principles to optimize molecules for potency, selectivity, and ADME properties
• Proficiency with analytical methods (UHPLC, LC/MS, NMR, UV-Vis)
• Excellent record-keeping, communication, and teamwork skills
• Experience drafting SOPs or batch records is a plus

Why Join OliX?

Join OliX to contribute to programs at the intersection of small-molecule medicinal chemistry and RNAi therapeutics. With active Phase I programs and partnerships with Eli Lilly, L’Oréal, and Hansoh, OliX offers a collaborative, innovation-driven environment where your work can impact future therapies.

• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Base salary range of $85,000 – $145,000 (experience-based)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Stock option grants
• Professional growth opportunities in a collaborative lab setting

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

For more information about OliX and to stay updated on opportunities, visit OliX’s career page.