Staff/ Senior Staff Scientist, DMPK

Septerna; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

Septerna, a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, seeks an experienced DMPK leader to define and execute ADME/PK and PK/PD strategy across drug discovery and development projects.

Reporting to the SD, DMPK and Clinical Pharmacology, you will partner with discovery teams, build internal DMPK capabilities, manage CROs, mentor scientists, and contribute to IND-enabling submissions. The role offers competitive compensation, stock options, and a target bonus.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• 5+ years of DMPK drug discovery experience post-Ph.D., in biotech/pharma.
• Lead DMPK efforts across programs spanning multiple target classes and therapeutic areas.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and managing outsourced DMPK studies.

Responsibilities

• Define ADME/PK and PK/PD strategy for discovery and development programs.
• Design, execute, and interpret ADME and DDI studies; evaluate IVIVC/IVIVE data.
• Translate dosing regimens from preclinical to clinical; consent human dose projection.
• Analyze PK/PD data and present to project teams and senior management.
• Develop in vitro/in vivo assays to characterize ADME/PK and DDI profiles.
• Manage CRO relationships and outsourced DMPK studies; ensure quality and timelines.

Skills

DMPK leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific communication

Project management

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field

Tools

Phoenix WinNonlin

Job description

Septerna is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, CA on a mission to develop life-changing medicines for patients with the vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused drug discovery company. The company’s Native Complex Platform™ recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular context. This approach enables novel access to modern structural and screening technologies used in industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire class of GPCRs. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule programs with potential for growth to target many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date.

We are excited to expand our multidisciplinary team of individuals focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. At Septerna we strive to embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background through collaboration. To join our ambitious team, be prepared to bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to accomplish our mission. We share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations and cultivate an environment where our employees succeed by learning from each other and working as a team.

We are committed to the development of meaningful therapeutics for patients with indications of high unmet need. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with talented individuals on the frontlines of therapeutic discovery and development. You will directly help move therapies through preclinical research, positioning them for success in the clinic. The successful candidate will add their passion, unique talents, and expertise to a dynamic team motivated to discover new disease-modifying therapeutics for patients in a fast-paced environment.

We are seeking an experienced DMPK leader to help define and execute DMPK, PK, and PK/PD strategy across our drug discovery and development portfolio. Reporting to the SD, DMPK and Clinical Pharmacology, you will partner with discovery project teams across multiple therapeutic areas — characterizing and evaluating compounds from hit identification through candidate selection, and, as programs mature, into clinical development. You will also help build our internal DMPK capabilities and CRO relationships, serving as the DMPK representative for select programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Help define and execute ADME/PK and PK/PD strategy for discovery and development programs, partnering with DMPK leadership across target classes and therapeutic areas
• Design, execute, and interpret studies assessing ADME and drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential; evaluate in vitro ADME data in the context of IVIVC/IVIVE
• Apply mechanistic approaches to translate dosing regimens from preclinical to clinical, including human dose prediction
• Analyze and present PK/PD data (Phoenix WinNonlin and other tools) to project teams and senior management
• Develop in vitro/in vivo assays to characterize ADME/PK and DDI profiles, supporting lead optimization and candidate selection
• Manage CRO relationships and outsourced DMPK study execution, ensuring quality and timelines
• Author and review DMPK sections of regulatory submissions and help respond to agency questions
• Serve as the DMPK representative — and, for select programs, Project Team Leader — on cross-functional discovery teams through IND filing
• Mentor junior scientists; build strong cross-functional collaboration across Chemical Sciences, Drug Discovery, Pharmacology, Toxicology, CMC, Clinical Pharmacology, and Regulatory

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Pharmacology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field
• 5+ years of DMPK drug discovery experience post-Ph.D., including substantial experience in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting
• Strong understanding of nonclinical in vivo pharmacokinetics, absorption/clearance mechanisms, drug metabolism, transporters, drug-drug interactions, and in vitro methodologies
• Demonstrated experience leading DMPK efforts across programs spanning multiple target classes and therapeutic areas, including at least one program that advanced to a clinical drug candidate
• Experience serving as a lead DMPK representative on cross-functional project teams, and managing externally outsourced DMPK studies
• Strong scientific track record and reputation as an effective technical leader, with excellent communication skills across a range of audiences
• Hands-on experience developing in vitro/in vivo assays for ADME/PK and DDI characterization
• Experience contributing to regulatory submissions (e.g., IND-enabling packages)

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $170,000 - $195,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. Septerna participates in the E-Verify program. California Consumer Privacy Act Privacy Notice For Job Applicants. If you are a California resident, click here for our CCPA Notice.