Principal/ AD Medicinal Chemist

Deep Origin•San Francisco, CA

20h•Remote

About The Position

Deep Origin is a biotechnology company building an operating system for science to transform life-science research. Its AI-powered platforms simulate biology, streamline R&D workflows, and enable scientists to model complex biological systems at scale. As the company expands its AI-driven simulation infrastructure, whole-human modeling, and predictive toxicology capabilities, it is seeking a Principal/AD Medicinal Chemist to lead and advance small-molecule drug discovery programs from early hit identification through IND-enabling studies. This is a senior, hands-on scientific leadership role requiring deep medicinal chemistry expertise, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. The chemist will independently develop and execute medicinal chemistry strategies, guide work performed by CROs, and help integrate computational and AI-driven approaches into drug discovery workflows. The role includes leading chemistry within cross-functional teams, mentoring colleagues and collaborators, and communicating strategy and recommendations to senior leadership. The position is remote-friendly across Europe and the U.S., with a flexible working structure that supports collaboration across time zones. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.; visa sponsorship or transfer is not available.

Requirements

PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related field.
3–8 years of industry experience in medicinal chemistry.
Proven track record of advancing drug discovery programs through key milestones, including Hit-to-Lead and Lead Optimization.
Deep expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, including modern methods and reaction mechanisms.
Strong experience in structure-based and ligand-based drug design.
Demonstrated ability to optimize compounds for potency, selectivity, and DMPK/safety properties.
High creativity, productivity, and independent problem-solving ability.
Experience managing external CROs and collaborating across disciplines.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly present complex scientific concepts.
Authorization to work for any employer in the U.S.; the company cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on small-molecule degraders or proximity-inducing chemistry.
Experience integrating computational chemistry, machine learning, or AI-driven design into medicinal chemistry workflows.
Background in predictive toxicology or ADMET modeling.
Prior experience contributing to IND-enabling studies or clinical candidate selection.
Familiarity with modern data science tools and cheminformatics platforms.

Responsibilities

Propose and independently drive medicinal chemistry strategies to progress programs from hit identification through lead optimization to development candidate selection.
Lead chemistry efforts within cross-functional project teams that include bench biologists, a DMPK lead, a non-clinical toxicology lead, computational scientists, and ML engineers.
Design, prioritize, and guide the synthesis of novel compounds using structure-based and ligand-based approaches to optimize potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and developability.
Interpret and integrate SAR, structural biology, DMPK, pharmacology, and safety data to guide compound design and progression.
Contribute to and integrate AI-driven and computational modeling insights into compound design strategies.
Serve as a technical leader and mentor for internal chemists and external collaborators.
Manage external CRO partnerships to ensure high-quality and timely delivery of chemistry objectives.
Communicate program strategy, data, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
Author and contribute to patent strategies and applications, scientific publications, and internal reports.