(Senior / Principal) Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry

The role

You will lead medicinal-chemistry design and synthesis across therapeutic programs. You will decide which compounds to make and translate SAR and biological data into the next design cycle.

What you will do

• Lead compound design and synthesis across small-molecule, peptide, and peptide-adjacent programs.
• Use SAR, in vitro, and in vivo data to prioritize and design next-round compounds.
• Design and execute practical synthetic routes using solution-phase or solid-phase workflows.
• Own synthesis, purification, characterization, quality control, documentation, and preparation of compounds.
• Operate and help maintain key chemistry instrumentation.
• Resolve difficult synthetic and analytical issues.
• Partner closely with biology and pharmacology teams.

Required qualifications

• Five or more years of hands-on industry experience in medicinal or synthetic organic chemistry
• Strong medicinal-chemistry judgment and the ability to use SAR and biological data to decide what to make next
• Experience owning chemistry end to end, including compound design, route selection, synthesis, purification, characterization, quality control, and biological handoff
• Deep troubleshooting ability and a high bar for clean experimental execution and documentation
• Comfort working close to biological readouts and balancing potency, selectivity, stability, exposure, tolerability, efficacy, and practical synthesis
• The ability to provide technical direction and raise the quality of a program while remaining hands-on

Nice to have

• peptide experience is helpful but not required

Benefits

• $500+ monthly wellness budget for training, supplements, coaching, recovery, or other tools
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options
• Capable covers 100% of the base policy
• Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K plans
• Healthy vegetarian dinners with the team are provided daily

Before you apply

• Support visa sponsorship where appropriate, including O-1, H-1B, J-1, TN, and other employment-based pathways
• In-person on site work trial in San Francisco

About the company

Capable Labs is a mission-driven team in San Francisco comprising members from MIT, Harvard Medical School, Roche, ETH, and Dana-Farber.