Principal Scientist, Peptide Therapeutics

About the role

Roche is looking for a Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemist to join its R&D team in the Peptide Therapeutics department. This is a primarily lab-based, technical leadership position combining hands-on synthetic expertise with strategic oversight, driving the discovery and optimization of peptide therapeutics across the full development lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Execute the multi-step synthesis of peptides, peptidomimetics and novel, non-commercial building blocks or scaffolds
• Use solid-phase peptide synthesis, solution-phase organic chemistry and macrocyclization or ligation strategies
• Oversee high-resolution analysis (HPLC, Mass Spec, NMR) to confirm compound identity and purity
• Apply conformational analysis, structure-based design and computational modeling (e.g. MD simulations) to optimize potency, stability and pharmacokinetics, and drive polycyclization strategies
• Implement SAR plans and multi-parameter optimization to advance candidates from early hits through to IND-enabling studies
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and mentor junior scientists at the bench

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry (or related field) with 3+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience
• Proven mastery of manual and automated SPPS and complex solution-phase organic synthesis
• Deep knowledge of macrocyclic peptides, routes of administration (IV, SC, PO) and library-based screening (mRNA display, AS/MS, OBOC)
• Experience presenting complex technical data and roadmaps to global cross-functional stakeholders

Required skills

• Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and solution-phase organic synthesis
• Molecular dynamics, conformational sampling and AI/ML-driven sequence optimization with Schrödinger, MOE and Maestro

What we offer

• Expected salary range of $143,200 to $265,900 for the California location, depending on experience, qualifications and location
• A possible discretionary annual bonus based on individual and company performance
• Relocation benefits are available for this posting