Senior Medicinal Chemistry Lead — Peptide Therapeutics

PsiThera; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

PsiThera, a dynamic biotech company, seeks an accomplished medicinal chemist to advance peptide therapeutics and small molecule programs from hits to development candidates. This role blends synthetic chemistry with cutting-edge computational drug discovery to rapidly optimize molecules for clinical development, involving cross-functional collaboration across CADD, biophysics, and biology teams.

The successful candidate will lead teams, advance macrocyclic peptides, and apply in silico and

Qualifications

• Education: BS, MS or PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a closely related field.
• Experience: 5–10 years in biotech/pharma with a track record of advancing molecules from hit to development candidate selection.
• Proficiency in solid-phase peptide synthesis and solution-phase small molecule synthesis.
• Deep knowledge of macrocyclic peptides optimization and oral delivery considerations.
• Experience leading and mentoring teams of CRO chemists and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Advance peptide therapeutics and small molecule programs from screening to development candidate selection.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with CADD, biophysics, structural biology, DMPK and biology teams.
• Apply structure-based and computational drug design to optimize peptides and small molecules; oversee synthesis.
• Manage external CRO chemist teams to ensure timely delivery of targets for testing.
• Interpret analytical data to ensure compound quality and guide project milestones.
• Stay current with literature and patent filings; lead programs from concept to development candidate nomination.

Skills

Peptide synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

Computational chemistry

Structure-based design

Leadership

SAR analysis

In silico drug discovery

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry

Tools

Automated solid-phase peptide synthesis

Solution-phase synthesis

Machine learning tools

Spotfire

Job description

PsiThera, a dynamic biotech company, seeks an accomplished medicinal chemist to advance peptide therapeutics and small molecule programs from hits to development candidates. This role blends synthetic chemistry with cutting-edge computational drug discovery to rapidly optimize molecules for clinical development, involving cross-functional collaboration across CADD, biophysics, and biology teams.

The successful candidate will lead teams, advance macrocyclic peptides, and apply in silico and