Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Chemical Research

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

San Diego, California, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.
 

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.
 

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry to be located in San Diego, CA.

Purpose:

We are seeking experienced medicinal chemists with outstanding organic synthesis expertise to advance small molecule drug discovery programs toward the clinic, with a focus on generating therapeutics employing targeted degradation strategies. This individual will be a key member of a dynamic and collaborative cross-functional team developing a targeted protein degrader and ubiquitin ligase platform across J&J. In this laboratory-based position, the successful candidate will partner with both internal and external medicinal chemistry teams to generate innovative solutions to synthetic and medicinal chemistry challenges within the context of both traditional small molecule and targeted protein degrader-based drug discovery projects. She/he will maintain close interactions with computer assisted design scientists, biologists, pharmacologists, and pharmaceutical development scientists. This individual must also excel in communication and have strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively influence in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, and ideally have some leadership experience.

You will be responsible for:

• Develop and execute clear synthetic strategies towards complex molecules using state-of-the-art synthetic methodologies.

• Extensive experience in design and execution of multi-step organic synthesis.

• Maintain a high level of productivity in the laboratory setting.

• Independently design and synthesize drug-like molecules utilizing medicinal chemistry knowledge, SAR analysis, structural modeling, molecular design tools with an understanding of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and optimal physicochemical properties.

• Collaboratively support the advancement of compounds through in vitro and in vivo studies to identify development candidates.

• Collaborate with structure-based design and in silico design groups to rationally design molecules.

• Generate novel, testable hypotheses to enable clear decision making.

• Manage external synthesis support efforts in collaboration with External Discovery Chemistry and Discovery Process Research colleagues.

• Contribute to defining scientific strategies and goals within a project team setting.

• Present data and reports on project status at individual, group, departmental and organizational meetings.

• Draft, execute and serve as lead author on research published in peer reviewed journals and present work at scientific conferences.

• Collaboratively engage with the external scientific community.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry and optionally 1-2 years post-doctoral experience with 4+ years of medicinal chemistry experience, or equivalent experience for non-Ph.D.’s performing progressively advanced duties beyond the Scientist level is required.

• Demonstrate a strong track record of achievement in synthesis of complex molecules with knowledge of modern synthetic and analytical te