Sr Associate Scientist I or II, Medicinal Chemistry
Iambic Therapeutics
San Diego, CA · Posted October 5, 2026
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November 2026
- #1Cities hosting the most business conferences in the West Coast78 conferences · of 17
- #2Cities hosting the most human resources conferences6 conferences · of 10
- #3Best cities for life sciences and biotech jobs454 openings · of 41
- #3Best cities for aerospace and defense jobs377 openings · of 67
- #3Cities hosting the most legal services conferences7 conferences · of 17
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How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among biochemists and biophysicists is little observed so far. Measured exposure for biochemists and biophysicists: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
JOB SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Associate Scientist to join the Chemistry team at Iambic Therapeutics headquarters in San Diego. This position offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic, cross-functional environment, collaborating closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, DMPK scientists, computational chemists, machine learning researchers, and software engineers throughout all stages of discovery, from hit identification and lead optimization through candidate selection. This is a laboratory-based Associate Scientist position that requires strong technical expertise in organic synthesis, catalysis, and medicinal chemistry, as well as hands-on experience in the drug discovery process and a demonstrated “drug hunter” mindset.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize chemical compounds (10 mg–5 g scale) using modern analytical techniques such as LCMS, HPLC, and NMR, employing both individual and automated parallel synthesis approaches.
• Identify and optimize reaction conditions using screening kits and other streamlined methodologies.
• Collaborate with the high-throughput experimentation team to ensure the successful execution of parallel chemistry experiments.
• Analyze biological and ADME-PK data using cheminformatics tools and contribute to data-driven discussions and strategic planning.
• Partner with computational chemists to leverage machine learning insights for efficient execution of the design–make–test cycle and platform development.
• Present results to project teams and senior leadership, clearly communicating data, implications, and recommendations.
QUALIFICATIONS
• BS in Chemistry with 5+ years experience (pharma/biotech) or MS in Chemistry with 3+ years experience (pharma/biotech).
• Proven skills in multi-step organic synthesis, reaction optimization, SAR analysis, and scientific presentation.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative research environment.
• Availability to work onsite in San Diego.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Prior exposure to high-throughput experimentation.
• Familiarity with ADME-PK principles.
• 5+ years of experience contributing to drug discovery projects.
• Experience with molecular modeling and structure-based drug design
ABOUT IAMBIC THERAPEUTICS Iambic Therapeutics (Nasdaq: IAM) is a technology and clinical-stage life sciences company headquartered in San Diego. By utilizing molecular superintelligence — integrating proprietary AI with automated, scalable chemistry and biology experimentation — our platform is designed to address the totality of drug discovery and development. At Iambic, we are building an engine that is designed to power the future of medicine. Learn more at iambic.ai.
MISSION & VALUES Our mission is to make better technology for better medicines. Three values guide how we work:
• Bold. We are courageous, take thoughtful risks, and approach challenges with tenacity.
• Innovative. We are creative and find new solutions that deliver impact.
• Collaborative. We respect one another and partner with integrity.
We value the range of perspectives our people bring, and we work to build an environment where every team member can contribute and grow.
PAY AND BENEFITS The pay range for this role is listed above. Actual pay depends on factors including experience, skills, and location. Eligible employees in the U.S. receive company-paid medical coverage, flexible spending accounts, voluntary life insurance, 401(k) matching and flexible time off. We are in a brand-new state-of-the art facility in beautiful San Diego with a community gym, dining, and easy access to great places to live and play.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Iambic is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.