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Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry

South San Francisco

At Pliant, we believe differentiated science can make a meaningful impact. We see our success as a direct result of the central role that each team member plays in advancing our mission to develop therapies that target the disease at its source. We are seeking creative, curious and collaborative individuals who dare to succeed, are committed to making an important impact on patient’s lives and will help us build one Pliant!

Description

Reporting to the SVP of Research, the Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry will bring deep expertise in medicinal chemistry and will play a key role in advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics enabled by integrin biology and targeted delivery strategies. This role will lead the design and optimization of drug candidates that leverage integrin-mediated delivery to selectively target tissues and cell types.

Responsibilities

  • Design and drive medicinal chemistry strategies for integrin-targeted therapeutics and delivery-enabled small molecules
  • Utilize Structure-Activity Relationships to prioritize hypotheses, set design criteria, and guide external synthesis efforts
  • Evaluate and interpret complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable design decisions
  • Collaborate closely with biology, structural biology, DMPK, and translational teams to integrate insights into compound design and program strategy
  • Prioritize and manage multiple tasks to ensure timelines and deliverables are met
  • Maintain high-quality documentation and data management practices
  • Present data and strategy clearly to internal teams and senior leadership
  • Contribute to intellectual property strategy and filings
  • Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance research culture

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, abilities, and prior experience required.

  • PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related discipline
  • 4+ years of relevant industry experience
  • Strong foundation in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, with demonstrated ability to guide compound design, interpret SAR, and apply physicochemical and structural insights leading to optimized drug candidates
  • Proven ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced research environment
  • Demonstrated track record of progressing compounds towards development
  • Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

    Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), linker-payload systems, or other targeted delivery modalities
  • Demonstrated ability to integrate biology-driven insights into chemistry strategy, including payload selection and receptor-mediated uptake strategies
  • Track record of meaningful contributions to candidate selection

How you work

  • Dare to Succeed: Brings intellectual curiosity and scientific courage to challenge conventional approaches and explore innovative chemistry and delivery strategies. Pursues bold yet data-driven solutions to advance integrin-enabled therapeutics.
  • Make an Impact: Takes strong ownership of scientific outcomes, proactively driving decisions and progress with urgency and accountability. Translates complex data into clear actions that move programs efficiently toward development.
  • One Pliant: Works collaboratively across disciplines, valuing diverse perspectives to strengthen scientific decisions. Aligns individual contributions with team and company goals to drive collective success.

The annual base salary for this role is $160,000 – $180,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Pliant’s compensation package also includes benefits, equity, and annual target bonus for fulltime positions.

 

 

To understand how Pliant complies with and manages your personal information with respect to the California Consumer Privacy Act, please visit https://pliantrx.com/ccpa-applicant-and-staff-privacy-notice/. 

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