Principal Scientist, Discovery Chemistry - San Carlos, California

BeOne Institute extends BeOne’s execution strength with a dedicated innovation engine, bringing agility and scientific depth to transform uncertainty into actionable and high-impact therapeutic opportunities. We operate according to three core principles: Bold Exploration, Strategic Alignment, and Pipeline Impact.

About the role

As a Principal Scientist at BeOne Institute, you will play a key role in conceptualizing, enabling, and driving cutting-edge research at our San Carlos, CA site. You will lead chemistry efforts end-to-end to support exploratory research on new modalities and screening technologies. The ideal candidate will be innovative, bringing creative solutions to both current and emerging challenges, and contributing to brainstorming sessions to propel research forward.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead chemistry initiatives to facilitate exploratory research on innovative modalities, targets, and screening strategies.
• Design and implement targeted and diverse compound libraries to test SAR hypotheses and meet project objectives.
• Develop and apply parallel synthesis techniques to enable swift library creation and iterative optimization.
• Devise and refine synthetic pathways to ensure efficient diversification and scalability.
• Utilize structure-activity relationship (SAR) insights to guide and improve compound optimization.
• Communicate progress through regular updates while proactively identifying challenges and proposing solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary or cross-functional teams and drive innovation within and beyond the Institute.
• Contribute to management and operational activities to support strategic objectives of the BeOne Institute at the San Carlos site.
• Manage external chemistry teams.
• Maintain impeccable ELN records.
• May be a contact for external CRO partners when needed.
• May provide matrix or line-function leadership for project teams when needed.
• May supervise other associates in the future.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, or a related scientific field, with 6+ years of relevant research experience.
• Deep expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, preferably in a drug discovery or pharmaceutical research setting.
• Demonstrated experience designing and synthesizing diverse, project-focused compound libraries to interrogate SAR and biological hypotheses.
• Strong experience with parallel, convergent, and/or modular synthesis strategies for rapid compound generation and optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and execute synthetic strategies for novel or challenging chemical matter.
• Strong chemical intuition, creativity, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify unconventional solutions to challenging synthetic and drug discovery problems.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate chemistry with biological data and use experimental results to inform compound design and research strategy.
• Ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple chemistry efforts in a fast-paced, exploratory research environment.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate chemistry strategies, scientific rationale, results, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work on-site in San Carlos, CA.
• Maintain an electronic notebook to a high level of data quality.
• Familiarity with CADD approaches and tools for structure-based drug design, molecular docking, and virtual screening is a plus.
• Familiarity with visual data science tools (e.g., Spotfire) is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with emerging small-molecule modalities, including induced proximity approaches such as molecular glues, bifunctional degraders, or transcriptional modulators.
• Experience with covalent chemistry and/or covalent drug discovery.
• Experience designing and synthesizing chemical probes or tool compounds for mechanistic biology.
• Experience managing external chemistry CROs, including vendor selection, project scoping, technical oversight, and review of deliverables.
• Experience with CADD, structure-based design, molecular modeling, or computational chemistry.
• Experience working at the interface of chemistry and biology in exploratory or platform research.
• Experience establishing, outfitting, or scaling a chemistry laboratory and associated capabilities.

Pay

Salary range: $165,300.00 - $206,600.00 annually. Actual compensation is determined by several factors unique to each candidate, including job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location.

Benefits

• Annual bonus plan (non-commercial roles) or incentive compensation plan (commercial roles).
• Discretionary equity awards and voluntary participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness programs.