Principal, Medicinal Chemistry – Precision Oncology

Job Description

The Lindonlight Collective, LLC is dedicated to accelerating multidisciplinary scientific breakthroughs for pediatric brain cancer patients. Our mission is to establish a global network of visionary scientists and clinicians, facilitate collaborative data integration, and provide venture philanthropy to drive discovery. We are fueled by compassion and urgency to improve outcomes and quality of life for affected children.

We support a range of initiatives, including academic translation projects, investigator-initiated and clinical trials, and biotech spinoffs. Our team is expanding, and we are seeking a highly motivated and dynamic Principal, Medicinal Chemistry – Precision Oncology to join our efforts in novel small molecule drug discovery targeting pediatric glioma relevant genetic alterations.

The ideal candidate is a medicinal chemist with a strong foundation in translational cancer biology. A background in phosphonate nucleotide analogues and/or mutant-specific receptor kinase inhibitor design (e.g., FGFR1), is especially desirable. They will bring deep experience in small molecule development, demonstrated through publications or patents. Overall, the candidate should have a passion for translating scientific discovery into therapeutic impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead scientific due diligence and support for small molecule proposals, with an emphasis on precision oncology strategies.
• Provide expert guidance on drug design, structure–activity relationships (SAR), and optimization efforts across academic and biotech partnerships.
• Serve as an internal resource on receptor tyrosine kinases, including FGFR, and advise on potential mechanisms of resistance and combination strategies.
• Collaborate with and support the efforts of investigators who are pursuing mutant-specific therapies for well-characterized driver alterations in pediatric gliomas, including ACVR1 R328V and R206H, EGFR Exon 20 insertions, FGFR1 N546K and K656E, and KIAA1549-BRAF fusions.
• Collaborate with external investigators to shape experimental plans, refine milestones, and track program progress.
• Participation in scientific reviews of trials, grants and biotech spinouts in their domain of expertise.
• Partner with Lindonlight’s leadership to develop investment recommendations and communicate scientific updates to our advisory board.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of Lindonlight’s portfolio by identifying opportunities for cross-program synergy and innovation.

Qualifications

Required:

• Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, chemical biology, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in drug development, with hands-on involvement in small molecule discovery and early development.
• Strong knowledge of kinase biology, including direct experience with FGFR or similar RTK pathways.
• Demonstrated success in designing and advancing small molecule candidates through lead optimization and preclinical studies.
• Demonstration of med chem design / ability through patents and publications
• Familiarity with computational chemistry tools to support SAR efforts, for example, Chemistry42.
• Familiarity with structure guided design as well as molecular docking
• Experience working with academic and industry collaborators.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and collaborative skills.
• We are open to candidates who have worked in non-oncology settings of FGFR1 or ACVR1, so long as the past work emphasized mutant-specific inhibitor generation.

Preferred:

• Proven experience in designing and advancing kinase inhibitors with mutant-specific selectivity.
• Skilled in applying both ligand-based and structure-guided approaches to develop selective inhibitors of mutant receptor tyrosine kinases.

Why Join Us?

• Engage in groundbreaking research with direct implications for pediatric glioma patients.
• Collaborate with leading experts in oncology, genomics, and computational biology.
• Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to improving lives through science and philanthropy.

Additional Information

Travel: Approximately 10–15% | Includes monthly travel to Houston and occasional travel for scientific meetings or partnership engagements.

Reports to: Chief Scientific Officer

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule: Monday to Friday; Weekends as needed

Work Hours: Requires flexibility to accommodate early-morning and evening meetings with international collaborators across time zones, including Europe and Asia.

Location: Preferably in Houston, Texas, but will allow remote work for the right candidate. If remote, monthly in-person meetings at Lindonlight’s Houston headquarters are expected.

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4245604455/