Senior Cheminformatics Scientist: Lead Drug Design

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,750,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Structural Biologist to lead structure-based drug design, elucidate high‑resolution structures, and guide medicinal chemistry efforts in a dynamic biopharmaceutical setting in Soweto, Gauteng.

You will oversee protein expression/purification, interpret data to design potent inhibitors, and mentor junior scientists while collaborating with chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to advance the drug discovery program.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics or a related field.
• 5–7+ years of post‑doctoral research in a drug discovery setting.
• Expertise in structure determination techniques (X-ray, cryo-EM or NMR).
• Experience with protein expression, purification and biophysical characterization.
• Knowledge of structure‑based drug design and protein–ligand interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead structure-based drug design projects from target selection to lead optimization.
• Determine high‑resolution structures of target proteins and protein‑ligand complexes using X‑ray crystallography, cryo‑EM or NMR.
• Express, purify, and characterize proteins and other macromolecules for structural analysis.
• Analyze and interpret structural data to guide design of potent, selective inhibitors or modulators.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, biologists and pharmacologists to integrate insights into the pipeline.
• Troubleshoot challenging projects and develop innovative solutions.
• Contribute to new structural biology technologies and methodologies.
• Present findings at internal meetings and external conferences.
• Mentor junior scientists and steer scientific direction of the group.
• Ensure timely project completion and accurate reporting from Soweto.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Independence

Education

Ph.D. in Structural Biology or related field

Tools

X-ray crystallography

cryo-EM

NMR spectroscopy

Job description

Senior Structural Biologist - Drug Design

About the Role Our client, a dynamic and innovative biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Structural Biologist to join their drug discovery team in Soweto, Gauteng. This pivotal role will focus on elucidating the three-dimensional structures of therapeutic targets and drug candidates using advanced biophysical and structural biology techniques. You will play a key role in guiding medicinal chemistry efforts, providing critical structural insights to facilitate the design of novel therapeutics. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of new medicines in a collaborative and cutting-edge research environment located in Soweto, Gauteng. The ideal candidate will possess extensive expertise in X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR spectroscopy, coupled with a deep understanding of protein structure-function relationships and drug design principles.

• Lead structure-based drug design projects, from target selection to lead optimization.
• Determine the high‑resolution structures of target proteins and protein‑ligand complexes using X‑ray crystallography, cryo‑EM, or NMR spectroscopy.
• Express, purify, and characterize proteins and other biological macromolecules suitable for structural analysis.
• Analyze and interpret structural data to guide the design of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors or modulators.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to integrate structural insights into the drug discovery pipeline.
• Troubleshoot challenging structural biology projects and develop innovative solutions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of new structural biology technologies and methodologies.
• Present research findings at internal project meetings and external scientific conferences.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the overall scientific direction of the drug discovery group.
• Ensure timely completion of projects and accurate reporting of results from Soweto, Gauteng.

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5‑7 years of post‑doctoral research experience in an academic or industrial drug discovery setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in structure determination techniques (X‑ray crystallography, cryo‑EM, or NMR).
• Proficiency in protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization.
• Experience with structure‑based drug design principles and practices.
• Strong understanding of protein structure‑function relationships and molecular interactions.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and data interpretation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data effectively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Must be eligible to work in South Africa.

Benefits Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with performance‑based bonuses and opportunities for career advancement. Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits are provided, as well as generous paid time off. Professional development is a priority, with support for attending scientific conferences, workshops, and pursuing further training. Employees in Soweto, Gauteng benefit from working with advanced structural biology instrumentation and a collaborative team culture dedicated to scientific excellence. Our client is committed to fostering a positive work environment and invests in the growth and development of its employees.