Principal Scientist I / II, Medicinal Chemistry

Schrödinger
Location
New York; San Diego
Job Type
Full-time
Posted
October 27, 2026
Salary Range
$150k - $200k USD

Job Description

We’re looking to hire aPrincipal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistryto join us in our mission to discover and develop drugs that improve human health through the use of breakthrough computational methods.

Our drug discovery and early clinical development team includes a cross-functional group of scientists and drug developers with experience working on all common target classes and therapeutic areas. We’re supported by more than 100 software developers and engineers, as well as a large-scale computational infrastructure to apply our proprietary physics-based drug design and optimization platform. Several programs we have worked on have achieved development candidates, including progression to clinical development and FDA approval. View our entire pipeline of wholly-owned programs and collaborationshere.

The specific job title will be determined based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Who will love this job:

  • A passionate scientist with a robust background in structure-based drug design
  • A team player skilled at working in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment
  • An excellent communicator and presenter
  • A dedicated collaborator who enjoys working with geographically distributed teams

What you’ll do:

  • Contribute to Schrödinger’s drug discovery programs as a medicinal chemist
  • Support and execute medicinal chemistry strategies to deliver high quality clinical candidates
  • Manage chemistry CROs to ensure efficient program execution
  • Collaborate with computational chemists and modelers on the application of Schrödinger’s computational platform for rapid advancement of drug discovery programs

What you should have:

  • PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry
  • At least four years of drug discovery experience in a pharmaceutical and/or biotech setting
  • Proficiency in Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD)
  • Extensive experience in working with external chemistry teams at CROs
  • Contemporary knowledge of key Medicinal Chemistry concepts and good understanding of biology, pharmacology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
  • Experience working in geographically distributed teams
  • Any of the following would be a plus:
    • Experience in leading drug discovery projects (as medicinal chemistry lead or project lead)
    • Experience with therapeutic modalities beyond small molecules in particular with peptides and bRo5 chemical space

Payand perks:

Schrödinger understands it’s people that make a company great. Because of this, we’re prepared to offer a competitive salary, equity-based compensation, and a wide range of benefits that include healthcare (with dental and vision), a 401k, pre-tax commuter benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a parental leave program. We have catered meals in the office, a company culture that is relaxed but engaged, and over a month of paid vacation time.  Our Administrative and Human Resources departments also plan a myriad of fun company-wide events. New York is home to our largest office, but we have teams all over the world. Schrödinger is honored to have been included in Crain's New York Best Places to Work, BuiltIn's NYC Best Place to Work, and Newsweek's list of America's 100 Most Loved Workplaces.

Estimated base salary range: $150,000 - $200,000. Actual compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, degrees held, market data, and business needs. If you have any questions regarding the compensation for this role, do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our Strategic Growth team.

Sound exciting? Apply today and join us!

We’re looking to hire aPrincipal Scientist in Medicinal Chemistryto join us in our mission to discover and develop drugs that improve human health through the use of breakthrough computational methods.

Our drug discovery and early clinical development team includes a cross-functional group of scientists and drug developers with experience working on all common target classes and therapeutic areas. We’re supported by more than 100 software developers and engineers, as well as a large-scale computational infrastructure to apply our proprietary physics-based drug design and optimization platform. Several programs we have worked on have achieved development candidates, including progression to clinical development and FDA approval. View our entire pipeline of wholly-owned programs and collaborationshere.

The specific job title will be determined based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Who will love this job:

  • A passionate scientist with a robust background in structure-based drug design
  • A team player skilled at working in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment
  • An excellent communicator and presenter
  • A dedicated collaborator who enjoys working with geographically distributed teams

What you’ll do:

  • Contribute to Schrödinger’s drug discovery programs as a medicinal chemist
  • Support and execute medicinal chemistry strategies to deliver high quality clinical candidates
  • Manage chemistry CROs to ensure efficient program execution
  • Collaborate with computational chemists and modelers on the application of Schrödinger’s computational platform for rapid advancement of drug discovery programs

What you should have:

  • PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry
  • At least four years of drug discovery experience in a pharmaceutical and/or biotech setting
  • Proficiency in Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD)
  • Extensive experience in working with external chemistry teams at CROs
  • Contemporary knowledge of key Medicinal Chemistry concepts and good understanding of biology, pharmacology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics
  • Experience working in geographically distributed teams
  • Any of the following would be a plus:
    • Experience in leading drug discovery projects (as medicinal chemistry lead or project lead)
    • Experience with therapeutic modalities beyond small molecules in particular with peptides and bRo5 chemical space

Payand perks:

Schrödinger understands it’s people that make a company great. Because of this, we’re prepared to offer a competitive salary, equity-based compensation, and a wide range of benefits that include healthcare (with dental and vision), a 401k, pre-tax commuter benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a parental leave program. We have catered meals in the office, a company culture that is relaxed but engaged, and over a month of paid vacation time.  Our Administrative and Human Resources departments also plan a myriad of fun company-wide events. New York is home to our largest office, but we have teams all over the world. Schrödinger is honored to have been included in Crain's New York Best Places to Work, BuiltIn's NYC Best Place to Work, and Newsweek's list of America's 100 Most Loved Workplaces.

Estimated base salary range: $150,000 - $200,000. Actual compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, degrees held, market data, and business needs. If you have any questions regarding the compensation for this role, do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our Strategic Growth team.

Sound exciting? Apply today and join us!

As an equal opportunity employer, Schrödinger hires outstanding individuals into every position in the company. People who work with us have a high degree of engagement, a commitment to working effectively in teams, and a passion for the company's mission. We place the highest value on creating a safe environment where our employees can grow and contribute, and refuse to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious belief, sex, age, disability, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. To us, "diversity" isn't just a buzzword, but an important element of our core principles and key business practices. We believe that diverse companies innovate better and think more creatively than homogenous ones because they take into account a wide range of viewpoints. For us, greater diversity doesn't mean better headlines or public images - it means increased adaptability and profitability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is this role located, and what is the work policy?
This position is located in New York or San Diego. The company offers a flexible work schedule, though specific remote, hybrid, or on-site policies are not explicitly detailed.
What qualifications and experience are required for this position?
Candidates must have a PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry and at least four years of pharmaceutical/biotech drug discovery experience. Required skills include proficiency in Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD), extensive experience managing external CRO chemistry teams, knowledge of key medicinal chemistry concepts, and experience working in geographically distributed teams.
What are the primary responsibilities of this role?
Key duties include contributing to drug discovery programs, executing medicinal chemistry strategies to deliver clinical candidates, managing chemistry CROs, and collaborating with computational chemists and modelers using Schrödinger's platform to advance programs.
What is the compensation for this position?
The estimated base salary range is $150,000 to $200,000, depending on factors such as experience, education, degrees held, market data, and business needs. Equity-based compensation is also provided.
What benefits does Schrödinger offer?
Benefits include healthcare (with dental and vision), equity, a 401(k), parental leave, over a month of paid vacation, pre-tax commuter benefits, catered meals in the office, and company-wide events.

Ready to Apply?

Apply for this Position

You'll be redirected to the company's application page

Email me new principal-level roles

One email when matching jobs are posted. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

Share this job:
WhatsApp LinkedIn X Email

Job Information

Source: greenhouse
AI Relevance: 75/100 (Relevant)
Remote Type: onsite
Skills & Tags:
STG

Email me new principal-level roles

One email when matching jobs are posted. Free, unsubscribe anytime.

Related Jobs

Apply for this Position

Get weekly job alerts