Scientist, Process Chemistry

Ambrosia Biosciences; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with 4% match

Medical, dental, vision + HSA

Parental leave 12-16 weeks

Unlimited vacation

RTD EcoPass

Job summary

Ambrosia Biosciences, based in Boulder, CO, is hiring a hands-on Scientist in the Process Chemistry group to develop scalable, kilogram-scale routes for our oral small-molecule programs.

You will bench-scale and then scale-up procedures, optimize transformations, analyze impurities with NMR/LC-MS/HPLC, and document processes for partner-site execution. This role emphasizes practical chemistry, collaboration, and deliverables for next-gen metabolic therapies.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS or BS in organic/synthetic/process chemistry with related experience.
• Fluency in multistep organic synthesis and air/moisture-sensitive technique.
• Ability to read NMR, LC-MS, HPLC data and draw defensible conclusions.
• Strong problem-solving and mechanistic understanding in scale-up.

Responsibilities

• Develop and select scalable synthetic routes for small-molecule programs.
• Optimize transformations by screening solvent, base, catalyst, and temperature.
• Use NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC to identify impurities and set controls.
• Prepare procedures enabling execution by partner teams at scale.
• Document results and contribute to patent filings and reports.

Skills

Multistep synthesis

Air/moisture-sensitive

NMR LC-MS HPLC data interpretation

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in chemistry

MS in chemistry

BS in chemistry

Tools

NMR

LC-MS

HPLC

EasyMax

RC1

ReactIR

ChemDraw

ELN

Job description

At Ambrosia Biosciences, our mission is to develop innovative, orally delivered small-molecule therapies that address the global challenges of obesity and metabolic disorders. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, we leverage a world-class team of scientists to pioneer next-generation treatments targeting incretins and GPCRs. Backed by a premier syndicate of investors including Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, Redmile, Deep Track Capital, BVF Partners, and Boulder Ventures, we are committed to advancing safe, effective, and accessible therapeutics that transform lives worldwide.

As our lead oral small molecule GLP-1 candidate enters Phase 1 clinical trials and we accelerate the development of our broader preclinical pipeline, we seek passionate, driven individuals eager to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. If you're ready to contribute to cutting-edge science with real-world applications and help shape the next generation of combinable metabolic therapies, we invite you to join our team.

Position Overview

The Process Chemistry group at Ambrosia Biosciences is seeking a hands-on synthetic chemist to join our team as a Scientist. This is an onsite, lab-based role focused on developing practical, scalable chemistry for our small-molecule programs.

The successful candidate will spend the majority of their time at the bench, devising efficient, scalable, and robust strategies for making kilogram quantities of the lead compounds identified by our medicinal chemistry team and documenting these processes to enable their execution at partner sites as required. This role suits someone who can contribute at the bench quickly, work well with internal discovery teams, and grow into owning route development workstreams.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and select synthetic routes for our small-molecule programs, from initial scouting through a preferred sequence that can be run repeatedly.

Optimize individual transformations by screening solvent, base, catalyst, stoichiometry, and temperature profile, all while determining robust operating ranges.

Utilize in-house analytical capabilities (including NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC) to identify process impurities, establish where they form and how they purge, and set controls at the appropriate step.

Utilize appropriate tools for searching the literature to generate synthetic ideas and reaction conditions to explore.

Embrace opportunities to explore unconventional ideas in search of breakthroughs.

Generate solubility data and utilize this information to develop crystallization and isolation processes, using seeding and temperature control to robustly arrive at crystal forms whose characteristics are suitable for large-scale processing.

Deliver material from milligram through kilogram quantities in round-bottom flasks and jacketed glass reactors, and contribute to process safety assessment ahead of each increase in scale.

Keep clear contemporaneous records, and present your results and recommendations to project teams. Translate this information into detailed instructions to enable execution by partner teams.

Contribute to patent filings and internal reports as our chemistry generates new intellectual property.

Education & Experience

Scientist: Ph.D. with 0–2 years of experience, M.S. with 3–5 years of experience, or B.S. with 5–7 years of experience in organic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, process chemistry, or a related discipline.

Qualifications

Fluency in multistep organic synthesis, including air- and moisture-sensitive technique, is required.

Ability to read your own NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC data and reach defensible conclusions about reaction outcomes and purity without assistance is required.

An open mind to all the ways to approach a given problem.

A mechanistic instinct: you reason from why a reaction behaves the way it does rather than screening blindly, and you can explain the conditions you chose.

Practical understanding of what changes when chemistry moves into larger vessels, and the importance of mixing, heat transfer, and addition rate.

Sound judgment around chemical hazards and a demonstrated safety-first approach at the bench.

Clear communication and effective collaboration within a small, cross-functional team.

Additional Skills

Experience and proficiency with setting up, modifying, and operating equipment suitable for kilogram-scale production.

Familiarity with automated reactor and in-situ monitoring platforms (EasyMax, RC1, ReactIR, Crystal16, or similar) is desirable.

Proficiency with ChemDraw and electronic lab notebook systems.

Salary range: Scientist: $95,000 – $115,000 annually

Eligible for an annual bonus based on company performance.

401(k) plan with 4% company matching.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including an HSA-eligible medical plan with no premium for employee-only coverage and an annual company contribution to your HSA.

12-16 weeks paid parental leave.

Unlimited vacation.

RTD EcoPass for unlimited Denver and Boulder transit.

Ambrosia Biosciences is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.