Remote Senior Computational Scientist - Cheminformatics

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 2,447,000 - 3,426,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Flexible hours

Global collaboration

Health insurance

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Computational Scientist with Cheminformatics expertise to join a fully remote drug discovery team. You will design, analyze, and optimize small molecules using QSAR, virtual screening, and advanced modeling, collaborating with scientists worldwide.

You will manage large chemical datasets, develop predictive models, and contribute to evolving workflows and assessments across medicinal chemistry and biology teams.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cheminformatics or related field with strong computational focus.
• 5+ years in cheminformatics, preferably pharma/biotech.
• Proficient in Python or R and cheminformatics toolkits.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods for design and analysis of small molecules (QSAR, virtual screening, property prediction).
• Manage, curate, and analyze large chemical databases and SAR data.
• Collaborate remotely with medicinal chemists to guide lead optimization and design new entities.
• Integrate diverse datasets (chemical, biological, ADMET) to build predictive models for drug discovery.
• Develop cheminformatics tools and workflows to enhance research productivity.
• Present complex computational findings and strategic recommendations to project teams and leadership.

Skills

Python

R

RDKit

Open Babel

QSAR

Molecular modeling

Machine learning

Database management

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Cheminformatics

Tools

RDKit

Open Babel

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Senior Computational Scientist with a specialization in Cheminformatics to join their fully remote drug discovery and development team. This role is pivotal in leveraging computational approaches to design, analyze, and optimize small molecules with therapeutic potential. You will work with vast chemical and biological datasets, develop predictive models, and collaborate extensively with medicinal chemists and biologists worldwide. This is an exceptional opportunity for an expert in computational chemistry to contribute to cutting-edge research and impact the future of medicine from any location, working in a dynamic, globally distributed organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods for the design and analysis of small molecules, including QSAR, virtual screening, and property prediction.
• Manage, curate, and analyze large chemical databases and structure-activity relationship (SAR) data.
• Collaborate remotely with medicinal chemists to guide lead optimization efforts and design novel chemical entities.
• Integrate diverse datasets (e.g., chemical, biological, ADMET) to build predictive models for drug discovery.
• Develop and implement cheminformatics tools and workflows to enhance research productivity.
• Present complex computational findings and strategic recommendations to project teams and leadership.

Requirements

• PhD in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related field with a strong computational focus.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in cheminformatics, preferably within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, R) and experience with cheminformatics toolkits (e.g., RDKit, Open Babel).
• Strong understanding of molecular modeling, QSAR, machine learning, and database management.
• Experience with large chemical libraries and drug discovery databases.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and significant performance-based bonuses.
• Fully remote position with flexible working hours and global collaboration.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous budget for professional development, conferences, and continuous learning.
• Opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking drug discovery projects and shape therapeutic strategies.