Principal Computational Chemist - drug discovery

hays-gcj-v4-pd-online
London
1 year ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Principal Bioinformatician - Drug Development

Principal Scientist PKPD

Principal Protein Scientist

Senior/Principal Scientist - Biomarker & Translational Science

Senior/Principal Scientist - Biomarker & Translational Science

Recruitment Consultant – Healthcare Division

Your newpany
You'll be joining a VC backed biotech that has already raised tens of millions of pounds of funding and is using its novel platform technology to develop innovative medicines for areas of unmet need, allowing you to have a significant impact on patients.Thepany has a high-performing and innovative atmosphere, driven by the highly experienced leadership team which has an excellent track record of developing therapeutics.They are going into their next phase of growth and are looking to further build up their R&D teams within chemistry and biology with the addition of an experiencedputational chemist to focus on leading early drug discovery projects.This is a full-time position, with hybrid working based out of their site in London.

Your new role
This is a permanent position, sitting in the Discovery Chemistry team, and working closely with a variety of internal colleagues and external stakeholders and vendors.The role is hybrid, requiring some time on site, and is focused on leading thepany’sputational chemistry efforts as they develop the next generation of small molecule therapeutics.Major responsibilities will include a mix of (but aren’t limited to):

Acting as a technical lead on drug discovery projects Driving early discovery work from Hit ID through to Lead Optimisation and beyond Manage virtual screening projects, eg assessing structure or ligand binding to identify novel hits and assist with progressing programmes through thepany’s portfolio Support experimental design with colleagues in other departments Develop and then implementputational chemistry strategies Assess, optimise and add new software into thepany’s discovery platform Customising / developing new workflows, tools or pipelines Identify requirements from internal stakeholders and help to develop new approaches Presenting results to senior leadership and other stakeholders, eg within medicinal chemistry or biology teams



What you'll need to succeed
As well as strongmunication skills for dealing with internal collaborators and stakeholders, you should have:An MSc / PhD (or equivalent experience) inputational chemistry or a life sciences discipline such as chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, or similar with a strongputational elementA track record of drug discovery within a pharmaceutical, biotech or contract research/CROpany or similar, preferably as a project leaderDeep hands-on expertise of applying both structure-based and ligand-based drug design approaches to discovery projectsExperience withputational chemistry techniques
such as conformational analysis, free energy calculations, homology modelling, etcGood programming skills in a language such as Python, C++, R, Java or similarKnowledge of Cloudputing, with experience of containerisation / Docker an advantageThe ability to work with external CROs or other research partnersProject management experience, coupled with a deep seated interest in problem solvingExperience of molecular dynamics (eg NAMD, Gromacs, AMBER) or applying Quantum Chemistry or QM/MM techniques are not necessary for this role, however it would be an advantage, as would knowledge of protein degradation / PROTACS / molecular glue projects.

What you'll get in return
You'll get the chance to make a significant impact on thepany's drug discovery and development projects, taking on project leadership for a number of different aspects withinputational chemistry as they develop the next generation of medicines.Thepany are relatively open on salary bands depending on the skills of the personing in and the benefits package associated with the role is quite generous.

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

CSL Behring Jobs UK: Careers, Salaries, Locations & How to Get Hired

CSL Behring is one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies specialising in plasma-derived therapies, recombinant proteins, gene therapy, vaccines, and rare disease treatments. If you’re a UK job seeker looking for a career with real purpose, strong scientific standards, and long-term progression, CSL Behring roles can be an excellent fit, especially if you have experience in biotech, pharma manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, clinical operations, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, or commercial. This guide is written for UK candidates who want to understand what CSL Behring jobs typically involve, which roles to target, where opportunities may be based, what skills recruiters look for, and how to tailor your application to stand out.

How Many Biotechnology Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Biotech Job?

If you are trying to break into biotechnology or progress your career, it can feel like the list of tools you are expected to know is endless. One job advert asks for PCR, another mentions cell culture, another lists bioinformatics pipelines, automation platforms or GMP systems. LinkedIn makes it worse, with people sharing long skills lists that make you wonder if you are already behind. Here is the reality most biotech employers will not say out loud: they are not hiring you because you know every tool. They are hiring you because you understand biological systems, can work accurately and safely, follow protocols, interpret results and contribute reliably to a team. Tools matter, but only when they support those outcomes. So how many biotechnology tools do you actually need to know to get a job? The answer depends on the role you are targeting, but for most job seekers it is far fewer than you think. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are essential, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look employable rather than overwhelmed.

What Hiring Managers Look for First in Biotechnology Job Applications (UK Guide)

Hiring managers in biotechnology do not start by reading your CV word for word. They scan for credibility, relevance and risk. In a regulated, evidence-driven sector like biotech, the first question is simple: is this person safe, competent and genuinely capable of contributing in this environment? Whether you are applying for roles in research, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, clinical, bioinformatics or commercial biotech, the strongest applications make the right signals obvious in the first 10–20 seconds. This in-depth guide explains exactly what hiring managers in UK biotechnology look for first, how they assess CVs, cover letters and portfolios, and why capable candidates are often rejected. Use it as a practical checklist before you apply.