Senior/Principal Scientist (Small Molecule Therapeutics)

TL;DR

Senior/Principal Scientist (Small Molecule Therapeutics): Lead early hit identification using DNA-encoded libraries (DEL) and complementary screening technologies to discover and validate novel chemical matter with an accent on assay cascades, protein source/construct readiness, and hit-to-lead translation. Focus on building and scaling a small-molecule screening platform integrated with AI-enabled chemistry design and automation/robotic synthesis, while driving data interpretation and orthogonal confirmation workflows.

Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

Salary: $148,000 - $208,000 USD

Company

hirify.global builds AI-driven systems for autonomous scientific discovery.

What you will do

• Build and continuously improve DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening capabilities integrated with AI-enabled chemistry design and automated/robotic synthesis.
• Design and execute DEL screening campaigns, including selection strategy, experimental execution, data interpretation, and hit validation/hit-to-lead workflow translation.
• Develop, optimize, and run biochemical and biophysical assay cascades to validate and characterize emerging hits.
• Evaluate and operationalize complementary screening modalities (e.g., fragment, affinity-based, functional) to expand hit coverage and diversify chemotypes.
• Secure and manage protein collaborations and define/produce protein constructs to enable reliable high-throughput screening and downstream validation.

Requirements

• PhD in Biology, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, or related field with 6–8 years of relevant drug discovery experience; or MS/BS with 10+ years in small molecule discovery, screening, and hit finding.
• Proven DEL expertise: designing, executing, and delivering impactful DEL screening campaigns from selection strategy through validated hits.
• Strong knowledge of complementary screening approaches (fragment-based, affinity-based, functional/phenotypic, and other modalities) to diversify hit sources and chemotypes.
• Experience developing and optimizing biochemical and biophysical assays, including assay quality metrics and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on biophysics proficiency for hit confirmation/ranking (e.g., SPR, BLI, DSF, ITC, MST) with critical data interpretation.
• Automation-forward mindset: experience operating in automation/robotics-enabled labs and designing scalable, reproducible experimental workflows.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time U.S. benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer-paid life and disability insurance.
• Flexible time off with generous company-wide holidays; paid parental leave.
• Educational assistance program and commuter benefits (including bike share memberships for office-based employees).
• Company-subsidized lunch program.
• Generous early-stage equity with bonus potential alongside base compensation.