Senior Research Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc.; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 183,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401k

ESPP

Wellness programs

Job summary

IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. seeks a discovery medicinal chemist to advance oncology programs with high productivity in the lab and strategic proposal of target molecules.

You will work on cutting‑edge synthetic targets, collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to push clinical candidates forward. The role requires a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry and 0–3 years of pharma medicinal chemistry experience, with expertise in asymmetric reactions and modern cross‑coupling.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry with 0–3 years of pharmaceutical industry medicinal chemistry experience.
• Excellent expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, asymmetric reactions, and modern cross-coupling techniques.
• Ability to maintain thorough scientific records and high lab productivity.

Responsibilities

• Apply modern synthetic techniques to prepare complex targets for oncology programs.
• Design high-confidence reaction sequences to avoid liabilities and simplify purification.
• Gather reaction data quickly, troubleshoot transformations, and multitask in/out of the lab.
• Deliver molecules at scales from 10 mg to >25 g and manage external resources.
• Leverage SAR data and structure‑based design to improve affinity and selectivity.
• Present results clearly in diverse forums.

Skills

Synthesis for medicinal chemistry

Asymmetric reactions

Cross-coupling techniques

SAR-driven target design

Oral and written communication

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry

Job description

IDEAYA is a precision medicine oncology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of transformative therapies for cancer. Our approach integrates expertise in small-molecule drug discovery, structural biology and bioinformatics with robust internal capabilities in identifying and validating translational biomarkers to develop tailored, potentially first-in-class, targeted therapies aligned to the genetic drivers of disease. We have built a deep pipeline of product candidates focused on synthetic lethality and antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs, for molecularly defined solid tumor indications. Our mission is to bring forth the next wave of precision oncology therapies that are more selective, more effective, and deeply personalized with the goal of altering the course of disease and improving clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. When you're at IDEAYA, you will be in the midst of brilliant minds working on precision medicine therapies to help cancer patients. We are passionate and committed about being on the forefront of oncology medicine, which means we all have a high internal drive that is at the very core of every person at IDEAYA. We are inquisitive, ask deep questions, and are data‑driven innovators who like to collaborate and use teamwork to move science forward.

For more information, please see www.ideayabio.com.

Location

South San Francisco, CA

Position Summary

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated individual with significant pharmaceutical industry experience to join our multidisciplinary team as a discovery medicinal chemist. The successful candidate will impact programs by being highly productive in lab and by rationally proposing target molecules that overcome liabilities to deliver clinical candidate molecules. You will be a part of dynamic, cross‑functional teams that successfully deliver drug discovery pipeline goals. The responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, those listed below.

What you’ll do

• Apply modern synthetic techniques to prepare complex chemical targets to advance cutting‑edge oncology programs and deliver high‑quality molecules at a very productive rate
• Design high‑confidence reaction sequences that avoid known liabilities and reduce difficult purifications
• Rapidly gather reaction information and troubleshoot problematic transformations
• Plan ahead and multitask in and out of the lab
• Deliver molecules on scales from 10mg to >25g
• Help manage external synthetic chemistry resources to high productivity
• Follow SAR data and leverage medicinal chemistry knowledge to propose targets that address critical issues
• Use emerging structure‑based design skills to design targets with improved affinity and selectivity profiles
• Clearly and concisely present results in various forums

Requirements

• Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry with 0‑3 years of pharmaceutical industry medicinal chemistry experience
• Excellent scientific expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, including asymmetric reactions and modern cross‑coupling techniques, strong knowledge of modern chemistry literature and in‑depth knowledge of a wide range of purification and spectroscopic characterization techniques
• Ability to keep good scientific records
• Demonstrated ability to maintain high productivity in the lab and synthesize complicated chemical structures at the pace required to impact medicinal chemistry programs while maintaining high safety standards
• Ability to develop new chemistry that is both practical and scalable
• Ability to regularly troubleshoot synthetic problems and provide practical and creative solutions
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to multi‑task and set priorities in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment while demonstrating a positive attitude and superior work ethic
• Ability to work well in multi‑disciplinary teams
• Level‑appropriate knowledge of medicinal chemistry concepts, including structure‑based target design, SAR‑driven target design, multi‑parameter optimization, physicochemical properties of drugs, and ADME and pharmacological principles applied to drug discovery
• Desire to continually learn drug discovery concepts and structure‑based design concepts and to stay current with the field

All employees are expected to act with integrity and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and IDEAYA policies, including IDEAYA’s Code of Conduct. Employees must demonstrate good judgement and ethical behavior in all business activities, maintain patient and product safety as a top priority, and report any suspected violations of law or Company policy through appropriate channels.

Total Rewards

• Medical/dental/vision coverage (100% company paid for employees and 90% company paid for dependents)
• 401k
• ESPP
• Wellness programs

The expected salary range for the role of Senior Research Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry is $148,000-$183,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will depend on several factors that may include but are not limited to the office location where this open position is located, the final candidates’ experience within their profession, experience in the disease areas we are striving to make an impact in as a company, length of time within the industry, educational background, and performance during the interview process.

The Company complies with all laws respecting equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate against applicants with regard to any protected characteristic as defined by federal, state, and local law. This position requires you to work onsite in the office at the Company’s facilities for training & meetings, with work‑from‑home flexibility, and the Company requires that all employees working in its facilities be fully vaccinated (except as required by applicable law). Therefore, this position requires you to be fully vaccinated from COVID‑19, subject to reasonable accommodations for medical or religious reasons, and/or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Company considers you fully vaccinated once 14 days have passed since you received either the second dose in a two‑dose COVID‑19 vaccine series or a single‑dose COVID‑19 vaccine. The vaccine must have been FDA approved, have emergency use authorization from the FDA, or, for persons fully vaccinated outside of the U.S., be listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization.

IDEAYA is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, IDEAYA does not discriminate in hiring or otherwise in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. EOE/AA/Vets. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please get in touch with us at [e-mail].

At IDEAYA we believe in the importance of on‑site presence by all team members as an essential ingredient to effective collaboration. Our hybrid approach to work at IDEAYA includes all staff being on‑site four days per week in the office, and one day per week working from home.

Company Values

• Passionate
• Commitment
• Fearless Innovation
• Courageous Integrity
• Respectful Teamwork
• Objective Decision-Making
• Empowered Accountability