Senior Computational Chemist

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + bonus structure

Fully remote work

Health, dental and vision insurance

Professional development budget

Impactful cutting-edge projects

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Chemist for a fully remote role. You will advance drug discovery by applying molecular modeling, QSAR, and virtual screening, designing novel molecules and predicting PK/toxicity.

Close collaboration with chemists and biologists will translate computational insights into experiments. The position emphasizes state‑of‑the‑art workflows, a strong publication record, and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• PhD in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years post‑doctoral or industry experience in computational drug discovery.
• Proficiency with Schrodinger, MOE, OpenEye and programming in Python/R; ML experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational chemistry methods for drug discovery programs.
• Design novel molecules with properties and predicted PK/toxicology profiles.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, biologists and pharmacologists to integrate insights.
• Analyze large datasets, identify trends, and communicate findings to scientists.
• Develop and maintain robust computational workflows and databases.
• Stay current with advancements in computational chemistry and cheminformatics.

Skills

Python

R

Machine learning

Data analysis

Education

Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, or related field

Tools

Schrodinger

MOE

OpenEye

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Computational Chemist to join their innovative drug discovery team. This fully remote position will leverage advanced computational techniques to drive the design and optimization of novel drug candidates. You will play a critical role in translating complex biological and chemical data into actionable insights, accelerating the drug development process. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned computational chemist to contribute significantly to the development of groundbreaking therapies from anywhere, working in a dynamic, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational chemistry methods, including molecular modeling, QSAR, and virtual screening, to support drug discovery programs.
• Design novel molecules with desired properties and predict their pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to integrate computational insights into experimental design.
• Analyze large datasets, identify trends, and communicate findings effectively to diverse scientific audiences.
• Develop and maintain robust computational workflows and databases.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in computational chemistry and cheminformatics.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in computational drug discovery.
• Proficiency in computational chemistry software packages (e.g., Schrodinger, MOE, OpenEye) and programming languages (e.g., Python, R).
• Strong understanding of molecular mechanics, quantum mechanics, and statistical methods.
• Experience with machine learning algorithms applied to chemical and biological data.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a passion for applying computational approaches to challenging scientific problems.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance bonus structure.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility and autonomy.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous professional development budget for conferences, courses, and training.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects with a significant impact on future medicines.