Scientist III, Discovery Chemistry (Peptide Synthesis)
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
$120,000 - $130,000 / year
Need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview? Contact us.
JobMinglr uses automated technology to recommend jobs based on profile information and job preferences. Match Score does not determine eligibility for a position, prevent a user from viewing or applying to a job, or make hiring decisions on behalf of an employer.
Description
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.
Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.
The Position
Arrowhead is seeking a highly motivated Scientist to join our discovery chemistry team at its San Diego site. The successful candidate will primarily focus on peptide synthesis and analysis. As a discovery chemist, you will play a pivotal role in the development and optimization of siRNA-based therapeutics by leveraging your expertise in peptide chemistry.
This role is onsite 5 days a week in San Diego.
Responsibilities
- Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) workflows using both automated and manual techniques
- Purify and analyze peptides using chromatography and mass spectrometry
- Analyze and integrate chemical, biological, and pharmacokinetic data to establish SAR and guide compound design
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advance delivery platform development
Requirements
- PhD (0-2 years of experience) or masters degree (5+ years of experience) in chemistry or a related field
- Hands-on experience operating automated peptide synthesizers
- Demonstrated experience in the design, synthesis, and characterization of macrocyclic and/or bicyclic peptides, including the incorporation of noncanonical amino acids and backbone modifications
- Proficiency with a wide range of analytical techniques, especially HPLC & LCMS
- Strong scientific problem-solving skills, with the ability to independently design and troubleshoot experiments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present scientific data, interpretations, and recommendations to cross-functional teams.
Preferred
- Experience with high throughput screening technologies (phage display, mRNA display, DEL, OBOC etc.)
- Familiar with biophysical assays for characterization of biomolecular interactions
- Experience applying structure activity relationship (SAR) principles to peptides for hit to lead optimization
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.
About this role
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals is building RNAi-based therapeutics to treat genetic diseases, and this discovery chemistry role focuses on the peptide synthesis and optimization work that underpins their delivery platform. You would join the San Diego research team working independently on solid-phase peptide synthesis—both automated and manual techniques—alongside purification, analytical characterization, and structure-activity relationship analysis to advance siRNA therapeutics toward the clinic.
The position suits someone with a PhD and up to two years of postdoctoral experience, or a master's degree holder with five or more years in chemistry. You'll need hands-on expertise in automated peptide synthesizers and a track record designing and synthesizing complex peptides, including macrocyclic and bicyclic structures with noncanonical amino acids. Proficiency with HPLC and LCMS is essential; experience with high-throughput screening technologies like phage display or DEL, and familiarity with biophysical assays, would strengthen your candidacy. The role demands strong independent problem-solving and the ability to communicate findings clearly to cross-functional teams. This is a full-time, in-office position in San Diego, with a salary range of $120,000 to $130,000.
This role's local market on JobMinglr
Pay for this role
$120,000 to $130,000 per year
That is the employer's posted range, and where you land in it is usually decided in one conversation. Before that conversation, run the numbers: analyze an offer for this role.
Before you apply, worth reading
How JobMinglr reads this job
Every listing here is scored against your profile before you apply: skills overlap, experience level, location and work arrangement, each weighted and explained. You see the score and the reasons, not just a list. How the matching works.