Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry

Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the discovery and development of novel integrin-based therapeutics. Based in South San Francisco, California, Pliant was founded in 2015 to develop therapeutics to modulate specific pathways upregulated or dysfunctional in certain diseases. Our approach involves developing novel integrin-based therapeutics to treat solid tumors and other diseases. Integrins are a crucial link between a cell's internal structure and its external environment and function in cell signaling, regulation and adhesion as well as wound healing and immune response.Founded by a team of world-renowned researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, this group discovered key insights into the integrin biology and developed small molecule therapeutics to target this devastating disease process. Launched in 2016 by Third Rock Ventures, a leading healthcare venture capital firm, Pliant has developed an industry-leading proprietary library of over 15,000 integrins that serve as a key driver to its portfolio. We believe our platform may be broadly applicable across multiple disease areas including delivery of drug payloads to cells utilizing integrin receptor-binding molecules as tissue-specific delivery and internalization mechanisms. Currently, Pliant is conducting a Phase 1 study of PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of avß8 and avß1 integrins, that has shown encouraging clinical activity in the development of a treatment of immune checkpoint resistant solid tumors.DescriptionReporting to the SVP of Research, the Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry will bring deep expertise in medicinal chemistry and will play a key role in advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics enabled by integrin biology and targeted delivery strategies. This role will lead the design and optimization of drug candidates that leverage integrin-mediated delivery to selectively target tissues and cell types.ResponsibilitiesDesign and drive medicinal chemistry strategies for integrin-targeted therapeutics and delivery-enabled small moleculesUtilize Structure-Activity Relationships to prioritize hypotheses, set design criteria, and guide external synthesis effortsEvaluate and interpret complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable design decisionsCollaborate closely with biology, structural biology, DMPK, and translational teams to integrate insights into compound design and program strategyPrioritize and manage multiple tasks to ensure timelines and deliverables are metMaintain high-quality documentation and data management practicesPresent data and strategy clearly to internal teams and senior leadershipContribute to intellectual property strategy and filingsFoster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance research cultureQualificationsPhD in Organic Chemistry or a related discipline4+ years of relevant industry experienceStrong foundation in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, with demonstrated ability to guide compound design, interpret SAR, and apply physicochemical and structural insights leading to optimized drug candidatesProven ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced research environmentDemonstrated track record of progressing compounds towards developmentExceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing prioritiesExcellent written and verbal communication skillsPreferred QualificationsExperience with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), linker-payload systems, or other targeted delivery modalitiesDemonstrated ability to integrate biology-driven insights into chemistry strategy, including payload selection and receptor-mediated uptake strategiesTrack record of meaningful contributions to candidate selectionHow you workDare to Succeed: Brings intellectual curiosity and scientific courage to challenge conventional approaches and explore innovative chemistry and delivery strategies. Pursues bold yet data-driven solutions to advance integrin-enabled therapeutics.Make an Impact: Takes strong ownership of scientific outcomes, proactively driving decisions and progress with urgency and accountability. Translates complex data into clear actions that move programs efficiently toward development.One Pliant: Works collaboratively across disciplines, valuing diverse perspectives to strengthen scientific decisions. Aligns individual contributions with team and company goals to drive collective success.The annual base salary for this role is $160,000 – $180,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Pliant's compensation package also includes benefits, equity, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.As set forth in Pliant Therapeutics, Inc.'s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.J-18808-Ljbffr