--- title: 'Sr Associate Scientist I or II, Medicinal Chemistry at Iambic Therapeutics, Inc' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-associate-scientist-i-or-ii-medicinal-chemistry-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-7zek78ek4h8y' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-14' --- # Sr Associate Scientist I or II, Medicinal Chemistry at Iambic Therapeutics, Inc - **Company:** Iambic Therapeutics, Inc - **Location:** San Diego, CA - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2026-10-05 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/iambic-therapeutics/6ba365c2-2542-41c0-9674-ec529ea4a218 ## Job description ## JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Associate Scientist to join the Chemistry team at Iambic Therapeutics headquarters in San Diego. This position offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic, cross-functional environment, collaborating closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, DMPK scientists, computational chemists, machine learning researchers, and software engineers throughout all stages of discovery, from hit identification and lead optimization through candidate selection. This is a laboratory-based Associate Scientist position that requires strong technical expertise in organic synthesis, catalysis, and medicinal chemistry, as well as hands-on experience in the drug discovery process and a demonstrated “drug hunter” mindset. ## KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Design, synthesize, purify, and characterize chemical compounds (10 mg–5 g scale) using modern analytical techniques such as LCMS, HPLC, and NMR, employing both individual and automated parallel synthesis approaches. - Identify and optimize reaction conditions using screening kits and other streamlined methodologies. - Collaborate with the high-throughput experimentation team to ensure the successful execution of parallel chemistry experiments. - Analyze biological and ADME-PK data using cheminformatics tools and contribute to data-driven discussions and strategic planning. - Partner with computational chemists to leverage machine learning insights for efficient execution of the design–make–test cycle and platform development. - Present results to project teams and senior leadership, clearly communicating data, implications, and recommendations. ## QUALIFICATIONS - BS in Chemistry with 5+ years experience (pharma/biotech) or MS in Chemistry with 3+ years experience (pharma/biotech). - Proven skills in multi-step organic synthesis, reaction optimization, SAR analysis, and scientific presentation. - Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative research environment. - Availability to work onsite in San Diego. ## PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Prior exposure to high-throughput experimentation. - Familiarity with ADME-PK principles. - 5+ years of experience contributing to drug discovery projects. - Experience with molecular modeling and structure-based drug design ## ABOUT IAMBIC THERAPEUTICS Iambic is a clinical-stage life-science and technology company developing novel medicines using its AI-driven discovery and development platform. Based in San Diego and founded in 2020, Iambic has assembled a world-class team that unites pioneering AI experts and experienced drug hunters. The Iambic platform has demonstrated delivery of new drug candidates to human clinical trials with unprecedented speed and across multiple target classes and mechanisms of action. Iambic is advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class and first-in-class clinical assets, both internally and in partnership, to address urgent unmet patient need. Learn more about the Iambic team, platform, pipeline, and partnerships at [iambic.ai](http://iambic.ai). ## MISSION & CORE VALUES Our mission is to deliver better medicines through innovations in AI-based discovery technologies. The culture and work at Iambic Therapeutics are profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our people and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. We are committed to building an inclusive environment where a diverse group of talented humans work together to discover therapeutics and create technologies. ## PAY AND BENEFITS We offer industry leading competitive pay, company paid healthcare, flexible spending accounts, voluntary life insurance, 401K matching, and uncapped vacation to our team. We are in a brand-new state-of-the art facility in beautiful San Diego with an onsite gym, dining, and easy access to great places to live and play. ## About Iambic Therapeutics, Inc ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Iambic Therapeutics is a clinical‑stage biotechnology company that uses an AI‑driven platform to discover and develop novel small‑molecule medicines for oncology and other diseases. - **Entity Type**: Private (late‑stage venture‑backed) - **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, United States - **Founded**: 2020 - **Founders**: Not explicitly named in available sources; leadership includes a Co‑Founder & CEO and a Co‑Founder & CTO. ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Biotechnology, AI‑powered drug discovery, oncology therapeutics - **Target customers**: B2B partnerships with pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Bayer) and, ultimately, patients through a wholly‑owned pipeline of clinical‑stage candidates - **Mission**: *“Better technology for better medicines”* – using machine learning and automation to transform the creation of new therapeutics ## Products & Services - **Enchant Platform**: A multi‑modal transformer AI that breaks down data barriers between preclinical and clinical R&D, enabling rapid molecular design. - **NeuralPLexer**: A co‑folding AI technology that predicts protein‑ligand structures to guide drug design. - **Automated High‑Throughput Experimentation**: AI‑driven robotics that generate new biological data from novel molecular designs on a weekly cadence. - **IAM1363** (HER2 inhibitor): A highly selective, brain‑penetrant tyrosine kinase inhibitor for HER2‑driven cancers; currently in Phase 1b clinical studies. - **IAM‑C1** (CDK2/4 dual inhibitor): A potential first‑in‑class selective inhibitor for HR+/HER2‑ metastatic breast cancer (preclinical). - **IAM‑K1** (KIF18A inhibitor): A potential best‑in‑class allosteric inhibitor for triple‑negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other solid tumors (preclinical). - **Undisclosed programs**: Additional wholly‑owned candidates across multiple target classes and mechanisms. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: **Total funding** – $330.8 M (including a $100 M Series B in Oct 2023, a $50 M Series B extension in Apr 2024 led by EXOR N.V. and Mubadala Capital, and a $127.8 M venture round in Nov 2025) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: EXOR N.V., Mubadala Capital, Nexus Venture, Bayer (collaboration in AI drug discovery), and a Scientific Advisory Board including Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold (Caltech) - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount of **117** (64.5 % year‑over‑year growth) - Active job postings: **18** (+200 % quarterly, +50 % yearly) - Pipeline advanced from program launch to IND in **2 years** (vs. 6‑year industry average for IAM1363) - Broad platform applicability demonstrated across orthosteric, allosteric, and protein‑protein interaction modalities ## Competitive Advantages - **Speed**: AI‑driven platform can deliver development candidates to clinical trials in roughly one‑third the industry average time. - **Selectivity & Differentiated Profiles**: IAM1363 shows > 5000‑fold selectivity against EGFR, avoiding EGFR‑driven toxicity; IAM‑C1 targets CDK2/4 with a novel selectivity profile. - **Broad Platform Applicability**: Platform has produced leads across diverse protein classes and mechanisms (orthosteric, allosteric, PPI modulators). - **Integration of AI and Drug Hunting**: Tightly integrated team of AI experts and seasoned drug hunters, with a culture of “audacity” that tackles hard chemistry problems. ## Strategic Focus - Advancing the clinical pipeline: IAM1363 Phase 1b, preparing IAM‑C1 and IAM‑K1 for IND‑enabling studies. - Expanding platform partnerships (e.g., Bayer collaboration). - Scaling the organization: actively hiring in ML science, computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and clinical operations. - Exploring new therapeutic areas and target classes through the Enchant and NeuralPLexer technologies. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values of **Respect**, **Collaboration**, and **Audacity** – cross‑functional teamwork with resilience and optimism; a flat, high‑trust environment. - **Work Model**: Based in La Jolla/San Diego, CA; the company emphasizes on‑site collaboration for drug‑discovery and lab‑based roles; remote/hybrid policy not explicitly stated. - **Team Growth**: Rapidly scaling (headcount +64 % YoY) with a strong pipeline of open roles in ML, computational chemistry, drug product development, and clinical operations. - **Cutting‑Edge Work**: Opportunity to work at the intersection of frontier AI (large multimodal models, agentic data pipelines) and real‑world drug discovery that reaches patients. - **Leadership & Mentorship**: Advisory board includes Nobel laureate and former NVIDIA AI director; close integration of AI and biology. ## Sources 1. [iambic.ai](https://www.iambic.ai/) – Homepage, platform, and corporate overview 2. [iambic.ai/about](https://www.iambic.ai/about) – Leadership, advisory board, investors 3. [iambic.ai/pipeline](https://www.iambic.ai/pipeline) – Pipeline details (IAM1363, IAM‑C1, IAM‑K1) 4. [iambic.ai/careers](https://www.iambic.ai/careers) – Careers page, values, open positions 5. [linkedin.com/company/iambic-ai](https://www.linkedin.com/company/iambic-ai) – Company stats (headcount 117, $3.4M revenue, $330.8M funding, funding rounds, employee growth) ## Other roles at Iambic Therapeutics, Inc - [Sr. Project Manager, Clinical Development](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-project-manager-clinical-development-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-diego-ypkbzp0zb86s) — San Diego, CA - [Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-scientist-medicinal-chemistry-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-diego-et7kjjyvc1yv) — San Diego, CA - [Principal / AD / Director, Agentic AI](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-ad-director-agentic-ai-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-diego-1g1gksks4q51) — San Diego, CA - [Senior Principal Statistical Programmer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-principal-statistical-programmer-iambic-therapeutics-inc-united-states-vv0e4pvvfypz) — United States - [Software Engineer I/II - Scientific Computing](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-i-ii-scientific-computing-iambic-therapeutics-inc-boston-2vn970jxspag) — Boston, MA - [Sr. Associate Scientist I / II – High Throughput Chemistry](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-associate-scientist-i-ii-high-throughput-chemistry-iambic-therapeutics-inc-41r8p5392c9w) — San Diego, CA - [Research Scientist I / II – High Throughput Chemistry](https://feeny.ai/job/research-scientist-i-ii-high-throughput-chemistry-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-w3jqhf0wj7pb) — San Diego, CA - [Lead Clinical Data Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-clinical-data-manager-iambic-therapeutics-inc-united-states-1ene81pwjjw6) — United States - [Senior Analyst, Corporate FP&A](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-analyst-corporate-fp-a-iambic-therapeutics-inc-san-diego-1j3vjtvm2vyz) — San Diego, CA - [Associate Director, SEC Reporting and Technical Accounting](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-sec-reporting-and-technical-accounting-iambic-therapeutics-40z76gzeshz7) — San Diego, CA