This drug discovery careers board lists job opportunities in drug discovery, including for project team leadership, R&D, and management roles in medicinal chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, and drug development. You can also read more about how to get a job and how to build a career in drug discovery below.
US West | US East | Europe and UK | How to Get a Job in Drug Discovery
Use this form to list a drug discovery career opportunity or related job posting on this page, on the home page, or in our e-mail newsletter.
Eligible Drug Hunter newsletter subscribers can share relevant drug discovery career opportunities free of charge. Premium Members and contributors including reviewers can also share relevant opportunities in the e-mail newsletter free of charge, subject to availability.
US West Coast (e.g. Biotech Startup Jobs in San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle)
Title | Area | Company | City | State or Country | Years Post-PhD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Account Executive | https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N2Mdd8E2CEXZhiq4sOJ3pczOji6Sqjvw/view | Biotech and Pharma Industry Media | Drug Hunter | Remote | USA | 02/05/23 | |
Sales Manager/Director | https://drughunters.com/3Y7wnhT | Biotech and Pharma Industry Media | Drug Hunter | Remote | USA | 01/28/23 | |
Operations Manager | https://bit.ly/3wE2E4Q | Drug Hunter | Portland | OR | 5 | 08/30/22 | |
Product Manager | https://bit.ly/3Ayh6MS | Digital Services | Drug Hunter | Portland | OR | 2 | 08/30/22 |
Scientific Writer | https://bit.ly/3AWqrzq | Drug Discovery | Drug Hunter | Portland | OR | 7 | 08/30/22 |
Executive Editor | https://bit.ly/3CZmBHl | Drug Discovery | Drug Hunter | Portland | OR | 15 | 08/30/22 |
Senior Vice President | https://jobs.lever.co/dayonebio/7ff8cdc2-de18-46b7-98b6-06686603cd53?lever-source=DrugHunter | External Discovery and Research | Day One Biopharmaceuticals | Remote | Remote | 15 | 11/03/22 |
Director | https://jobs.lever.co/Plexium/155bde76-98f7-49e2-b4c5-fc0f29a51911/apply?lever-source=DrugHunter | Computational Chemistry | Plexium | San Diego | CA | 04/05/22 | |
Director / Senior Director | https://app.trinethire.com/companies/33691-kinnate-biopharma-inc/jobs/59782-director-senior-director-medicinal-chemistry | Medicinal Chemistry | Kinnate | San Francisco, | CA | 7 | 04/15/22 |
Business Development Manager | https://bit.ly/3GQadcn | optibrium | North America | 06/02/22 | |||
Scientist | https://boards.greenhouse.io/dnli/jobs/4657690 | Small Molecule Discovery | Denali Therapeutics | South San Francisco | CA | 11/03/22 | |
Associate Principal Scientist | https://boards.greenhouse.io/atomwise/jobs/6474026002?gh_src=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Atomwise | San Francisco | CA | 8 | 11/06/22 |
Director | https://boards.greenhouse.io/schrdinger/jobs/5337569003?s=LinkedIn&source=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Schrödinger | San Diego | CA | 12 | 12/11/22 |
Senior Director | https://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/eikontx/job/otqwlfwu?__jvst=Employee&__jvsd=s1Pdbjw2&__jvsc=LinkedIn&bid=nNjJn3wK | Medicinal Chemistry | Eikon Therapeutics | Hayward | CA | 15 | 12/11/22 |
Vice President | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3331951705/?trackingId=ymXDqk9ZRLmyNjhrp0rn3w%3D%3D&refId=sB9AKZYKRiKPSgRqf0P0ow%3D%3D&midToken=AQG96ivyPRIFqg&midSig=1tRLEePZ2y7WA1&trk=eml-jobs_jymbii_digest-job_card-0-jobcard_body&trkEmail=eml-jobs_jymbii_digest-job_card-0-jobcard_body-null-6x7mst~lby3kgqo~ya-null-null&eid=6x7mst-lby3kgqo-ya | Drug Discovery | Meliora Therapeutics | Remote | Remote | 15 | 12/23/22 |
Senior Program Manager | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3448388919/?refId=BkfFKtPbQSSghQgtqBCMXg%3D%3D&trackingId=BkfFKtPbQSSghQgtqBCMXg%3D%3D | Drug Discovery | Rainwater Charitable Foundation | Fort Worth | TX | 5 | 01/30/23 |
Senior Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=589130cef91dc63e&hl=en | R&D Strategy | Viridian Therapeutics, Inc | Remote | Remote | 15 | 01/31/23 |
Senior Scientist II | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7864f21adad1aaad&hl=en | Structural Chemistry | Gilead Sciences | Foster City | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Scientist/Sr. Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=f16863b18f709013&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Weatherwax Bio | San Francisco | CA | 3 | 02/01/23 |
Scientist 2 | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=3a6ca977f85d1952&hl=en | Oligonucleotide Design with Synthetic Chemistry | BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. | San Rafael | CA | 2 | 02/01/23 |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=eebbabeb3f4c02d4&hl=en | Hit-to-Lead Chemistry | Exelixis, Inc. | Alameda | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=5a7f76ba78c8a63f&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Treeline Biosciences | San Diego | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=4af53b5d7b773cb5&hl=en | Discovery Chemistry | Genentech | San Francisco | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=2988c349144a8005&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Inception Therapeutics | San Diego | CA | 7 | 02/01/23 |
Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8d92d918c2bf20d7&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Vicinitas Therapeutics | South San Francisco | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Head of Chemistry | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=4500d3cba524a8e4&hl=en | NANOSYN | Santa Clara | CA | 02/01/23 | ||
Scientist, Discovery Chemistry | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=c12299cd2785ac12&hl=en | Research & Development | Johnson & Johnson | San Diego | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ce337e2ef8afc718&hl=en | Organic Chemistry | Kodiak Sciences Inc. | Palo Alto | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=92f96b19c3645185&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Neurocrine Bioscience | San Diego | CA | 10 | 02/01/23 |
Vice President | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=0b6607bcd7e93594&hl=en | Discovery Chemistry | Seagen | Bothell | WA | 15 | 02/01/23 |
Director/Senior Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=aed8dac560128282&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Brii Biosciences | San Mateo | CA | 10 | 02/01/23 |
Associate Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=e92239f2294e2e5d&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Atomwise | San Francisco | CA | 8 | 02/01/23 |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=b2c98f3dd0efcb2e&hl=en | Novartis | San Diego | CA | 02/01/23 | ||
Scientific Lead | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ebe706deb8f75bca&hl=en | Proteomics | Loxo Oncology | South San Francisco | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Medicinal and Synthetic Chemist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=99bc07c039c3dd61&hl=en | NANOSYN | Santa Clara | CA | 2 | 02/01/23 | |
Scientist I/Scientist II | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d62dccff44f6e30c&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | DiCE MoleculesSV, Inc | South San Francisco | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Distinguished Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=1ab6e00e5801070f&hl=en | Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics | Genentech | South San Francisco | CA | 10 | 02/02/23 |
Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=de4f97b9280ab64c&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Maze Therapeutics | South San Francisco | CA | 5 | 02/01/23 |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d8f6801c9c8ed2b6&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Think Bioscience | Boulder | CO | 5 | 02/02/23 |
Scientist II | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=72a33c5ee0a5fe5e&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Revolution Medicines | Redwood City | WA | 02/02/23 | |
Institute Group Leader | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d8240717f53f7046&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston | TX | 02/02/23 | |
Associate Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=4af9d80f751982a2&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Bristol Myers Squibb | Brisbane | CA | 12 | 02/02/23 |
Team Leader | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=692ec6713cf90791&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Cogent Biosciences | Boulder | CO | 02/01/23 | |
Principal Institute Research Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=1710a6c8344c1fb9&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | MD Anderson Cancer Center | Houston | TX | 02/02/23 | |
Senior Scientific Lead | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=2b5aa15f10fcc099&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Loxo Oncology | Louisville | CO | 2 | 02/02/23 |
Associate Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=542f43f99585fb4e&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Bristol Myers Squibb | San Diego | CA | 2 | 02/02/23 |
Senior Scientist I | https://boards.greenhouse.io/virbiotechnologyinc/jobs/4169822005?gh_src=7d1b19b25us&source=DrugHunter | Computational Chemistry | Vir Biotechnology, Inc. | San Francisco | CA | 8 | 02/02/23 |
US East Coast (e.g. Pharma and Biotech Careers in New York, Boston, and North Carolina)
Title | Area | Company | City | State or Country | Years Post-PhD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drug Discovery Biologist | https://drughunters.com/3W30xBf | Drug Discovery | D. E. Shaw Research | New York | NY | 01/13/23 | |
Computational Drug Discovery | https://drughunters.com/3W7AxEI | Drug Discovery | D. E. Shaw Research | New York | NY | 01/13/23 | |
Medicinal Chemistry | https://drughunters.com/3GBAI5I | Medicinal Chemistry | D. E. Shaw Research | New York | NY | 01/13/23 | |
Vice President | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3331951705/?trackingId=48PLabWcRQKHIYg2c0uGuw%3D%3D&refId=1rka6fTpR%2B2c15GHo%2BKDGw%3D%3D&midToken=AQG96ivyPRIFqg&midSig=1GssiwpsWDVas1&trk=eml-jobs_jymbii_digest-job_card-0-jobcard_body&trkEmail=eml-jobs_jymbii_digest-job_card-0-jobcard_body-null-6x7mst~l9q33oxz~yp-null-null&eid=6x7mst-l9q33oxz-yp | Drug Discovery | Meliora Therapeutics | Remote | US | 15 | 10/27/22 |
Medicinal Chemist | https://www.function-therapeutics.com/jobs/medicinal-chemist | Medicinal Chemistry | Function Therapeutics | Milwaukee | WI | 05/11/22 | |
Director | https://rometx.com/current-opportunities/director-chemistry/ | Chemistry | ROME Therapeutics | Cambridge | MA | 10 | |
Senior Principal Scientist/Director | https://boards.greenhouse.io/schrdinger/jobs/4107468003 | Medicinal Chemistry | Schrodinger | New York | NY | 8 | |
Senior Scientist | https://www.nimbustx.com/jobs/4721910004/ | Computational Chemistry | Nimbus Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 11/03/22 | |
Associate Director | https://www.nimbustx.com/jobs/4721970004/ | Computational Chemistry | Nimbus Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 11/03/22 | |
Sr. Director | https://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/eikontx/job/otqwlfwu?__jvst=Employee&__jvsd=s1Pdbjw2&__jvsc=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Eikon Therapeutics | New York | NY | 15 | 11/12/22 |
Senior Director | https://jobs.jobvite.com/careers/eikontx/job/otqwlfwu?__jvst=Employee&__jvsd=s1Pdbjw2&__jvsc=LinkedIn&bid=nNjJn3wK | Medicinal Chemistry | Eikon Therapeutics | New York | NY | 15 | 12/11/22 |
Director | https://boards.greenhouse.io/schrdinger/jobs/5337569003?s=LinkedIn&source=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Schrödinger | New York | NY | CA | 12/11/22 |
Research Fellow | https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/Biogen/743999869422961-research-fellow-medicinal-chemistry-chemical-biology | Medicinal Chemistry - Chemical Biology | Biogen | Cambridge | MA | 12/14/22 | |
Principal/Director | https://jobs.lever.co/Curie/7d5d66ad-d76c-474c-8bb5-f5bcdedada16/apply?lever-source=DrugHunter | Curie.Bio | Remote | MA | 3 | 12/23/22 | |
Principal Scientist | https://boards.greenhouse.io/treelinebiosciences/jobs/4758492004?gh_src=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Treeline Biosciences | Watertown | MA | 6 | 01/09/23 |
Sr. Scientist/Principal Scientist | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3426708419/?refId=6QCYXjQZTrKYbLG8KM50ug%3D%3D&trackingId=6QCYXjQZTrKYbLG8KM50ug%3D%3D | Medicinal Chemistry | Frontier Medicines | Boston | MA | 5 | 01/10/23 |
Director | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3436844037/?refId=6nTdMdVRTmGFy1VYqKD9Gw%3D%3D&trackingId=6nTdMdVRTmGFy1VYqKD9Gw%3D%3D | Medicinal Chemistry | Exscientia | Boston | MA | 10 | 01/30/23 |
Director/Associate Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=28f55cb5f053844b&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | BAKX Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 6 | 02/01/23 |
Project Leader | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=db8278fa6aff05df&hl=en | Cancer Drug Discovery | Scorpion Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 10 | 02/01/23 |
Principal/Senior Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=5f71a72ff34f3ae2&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | MOMA Therapeutics | Cambridge | MA | 3 | 02/01/23 |
Scientist I/II | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=cab741d301714a1a&hl=en | Computational Chemistry | Jnana Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 02/01/23 | |
Computational Toxicologist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=75795a5559714a6a&hl=en | Zoetis | Kalamazoo | MI | 5 | 02/01/23 | |
Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a1d693b351af330d&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Enanta Pharmaceuticals | Watertown | MA | 02/01/23 | |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=f9d010a1ac7bf070&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Rheos Medicines | Cambridge | MA | 02/01/23 | |
Principal Scientist/Sr. Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a3c33b6d451bfbab&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Dewpoint Therapeutics | Boston | MA | 5 | 02/01/23 |
Director | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=2a0954d3fd145e08&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Exelixis, Inc. | King of Prussia | PA | 02/01/23 | |
Senior Scientist II / Principal Research Scientist I | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d2cc6440993515ac&hl=en | Chemistry - Discovery Research | ABBVIE | Chicago | IL | 12 | 02/01/23 |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d812eb1d731a4138&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | Entact Bio | Watertown | MA | 5 | 02/01/23 |
Scientific Lead | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ebe706deb8f75bca&hl=en | Proteomics | Loxo Oncology | South San Francisco | CA | 02/01/23 | |
Principal Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=0a666c30f8689349&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry | PTC THERAPEUTICS | Bridgewater | NJ | 02/02/23 | |
Sr. Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=4412dc886066ecf8&hl=en | Medicinal Chemistry, Tumor Targeted Delivery | AstraZeneca | Waltham | MA | 02/02/23 | |
Head of Chemistry | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=3f05923914bea100&hl=en | Flagship Pioneering, Inc. | Cambridge | MA | 10 | 02/02/23 | |
Managing Scientist | https://talent.stjude.org/research/jobs/11173?lang=en-us | Medicinal Chemistry | St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital | Memphis | TN | 3 | 01/03/2023 |
Scientist | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=14a2382c338eb48e&hl=en | Oligo Chemistry | Novo Nordisk | Lexington | MA | 3 | 02/02/2023 |
Head of Chemistry | https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=a024717d491ae081&hl=en | Montai Health | Cambridge | MA | 02/02/2023 | ||
Senior Scientist | https://careers.abbvie.com/en/job/worcester/senior-scientist-ai-ml-drug-discovery/14/43879180224 | AI/ML - Drug Discovery | AbbVie | Worcester | MA | 02/02/23 | |
Principal Scientist/Associate Director | https://jobs.lever.co/atavistik-bio/55302de7-826f-448b-9c60-e6df5d05cec0?lever-source=LinkedInJobs | Molecular Modeling | Atavistik Bio | Cambridge | MA | 02/02/23 |
International (e.g. Opportunities in European Pharma Companies and the UK)
Title | Area | Company | City | State or Country | Years Post-PhD | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senior Researcher | https://apply.workable.com/exscientia/j/0382EBACAA/?utm_campaign=67710720ce&utm_medium=eps&utm_source=DrugHunter | Medicinal Chemistry | Exscientia | Oxford | UK | 2 | 11/12/22 |
Principal Scientist | https://charmtx.com/careers/principal-scientist-computational-chemist/?gh_jid=4104615101 | Computational Chemistry | CHARM Therapeutics | Cambridge | UK | 8 | 12/11/22 |
Head of Chemistry | https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3314645002/?refId=DRfZ5rhJRPCIuXYmd1hZig%3D%3D&trackingId=DRfZ5rhJRPCIuXYmd1hZig%3D%3D | Drug Discovery Unit | University of Dundee | Scotland | UK | 01/27/23 |
List an Open Position
Use this form to list a drug discovery career opportunity or related job posting on this page, on the home page, or in our e-mail newsletter.
Eligible Drug Hunter newsletter subscribers can share relevant drug discovery career opportunities free of charge. Premium Members and contributors including reviewers can also share relevant opportunities in the e-mail newsletter free of charge, subject to availability.
How to Get a Job in Drug Discovery
How do you become a drug hunter? After working in the industry ourselves and talking to thousands and thousands of biotech and pharma R&D leaders, here are the three most important characteristics of a great drug discovery hire:
- Be somebody others want to work with
- Demonstrates extraordinary expertise in at least one area
- Demonstrates sincere interest in the role
Be somebody others want to work with
Drugs are discovered by a community of researchers, not individuals. It takes a village to make a drug! Whether you work at a small biotech, a large drug company, an investment firm, or even academia, you’ll need to work with other individuals to make great things happen. While individuals are often celebrated as heroes in the media, everybody in the industry knows that every great drug is the result of teamwork, teamwork, teamwork.
It’s impossible for anybody to know everything about anything nowadays. In order to succeed in an area as technically complex as drug discovery, you need a team of people who are all experts and who work well together. If you want to become a drug hunter, you have to be somebody that others want on their team. That means being somebody who offers to help others, being somebody who is honest and candid, being somebody who is positive and passionate about their work, and just being somebody who’s pleasant to be around!
Demonstrate extraordinary expertise in at least one area
Drug discovery is incredibly technically complex, so each person on a drug discovery team has to carry their weight in at least one area of expertise. Nobody can know everything about anything, but you should prove that you can become an expert in at least one thing. Olympic athletes often find success later in their careers because they’ve learned how to get really really good at something. If you demonstrate that you can be a world leader in any super niche topic, whether it’s how to make single enantiomers of molecules, or how to run one particular biological assay that nobody else understands, that’s a great start!
Obviously, the more relevant your field of expertise is to pharmaceutical drug development, the better! Organic synthesis, biochemistry, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology have all traditionally been important fields to the industry, though the industry is becoming more flexible in what kinds of backgrounds are sought out initially.
Demonstrate sincere interest in the role
The easiest way to flunk an interview is to look bored. People want to work with people who want to be on their team! When applying for a role, it’s great to already have in mind what you want out of it and why you’re applying. Nobody likes to hear that you “just need a job.” Your future team members want to know why you think they’re special, and why when you join their team you’re going to be an equally happy camper. If you love what you do and you can’t wait to join a company, it will radiate!
Study the companies that you’re applying to, be selective with the teams you interview with, and really focus on areas that you think you’ll really shine in. It’ll set the tone from the moment you walk into the door and everybody will be able to tell.
Building a Career in Drug Discovery R&D
Many of the same principles that apply in finding a job to begin with also apply and building and growing a satisfying career in drug discovery research and development. Initially, growing your career is about growing technical expertise and building relationships. You’ll need to develop your knowledge not just of your specialized area, but also of adjacent areas, such as pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and clinical development, to understand how to best serve your teammates.
Building relationships cannot be understated. In order to affectively serve your team and to serve patients, you’ll need to be able to draw on the strengths and talents of people who aren’t directly on your team. You’ll need to be the type of person who can reach out to clinical key opinion leaders to figure out what drugs you should be working on, who can push and pull on other departments internally to advance projects, and who can find external partners like CROs, CMOs, and suppliers who can support your company’s work.
An easy way to start growing your knowledge just by exploring our sites resources! You can find conferences and events to learn from and network with other professionals here as well, and grow your knowledge a little every day by reading our science-based newsletter.
We wish you the best of luck on your drug discovery journey, and hope to meet you in person someday!
Drug Discovery Resources
- Drug Discovery Resources
- Drug Discovery Posters and Cheat Sheets
- Drug Discovery IPOs and Industry Reviews
- Lists of Approved Drugs
- Classics in Drug Discovery
- Drug Discovery Books
- Drug Discovery Conferences
- What is a Drug Hunter?
- Topliss Tree and Topliss Scheme Posters
- PK Reference Table / Cheat Sheet
- Pd-Couplings Table / Cheat Sheet