Principal or Senior Principal Scientist, Peptide & Bioconjugate Drug Discovery

Principal or Senior Principal Scientist – Peptide & Bioconjugate Drug Discovery

Does it excite you to build next-generation peptide drug discovery capabilities in metabolic disease? If this sounds like you, and you are ready to take on a broad area of responsibilities, then you could be our new colleague. Zealand Pharma is significantly expanding its global R&D capabilities and is establishing new research units in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We are creating a new organization—Molecular Platform Development—to strengthen and advance diverse drug modality capabilities in metabolic disease.

We are seeking a Principal or Senior Principal Scientist – Peptide & Bioconjugate Drug Discovery to take a leading scientific role in building peptide- and bioconjugate-based discovery capabilities within this new organization. The position offers a unique opportunity to shape strategy, culture, and technical excellence from the ground up, while directly influencing Zealand Pharma’s long‑term ambitions to deliver transformative medicines for people living with metabolic diseases.

• Define and lead peptide and bioconjugate drug discovery strategy aligned with Zealand Pharma’s metabolic disease portfolio and long‑term business objectives.
• Drive peptide and bioconjugate discovery programs from concept through lead‑candidate selection, partnering closely with cross‑functional stakeholders in computational chemistry, protein engineering, biology, pharmaceutical development, and project stakeholders.
• Provide deep peptide and bioconjugate expertise across multiple modality formats and lead structure–activity relationship development and optimization.
• Guide lead and backup candidate selection using integrated chemical, biological, and manufacturability considerations.
• Establish and grow peptide and bioconjugate chemistry and discovery platform capabilities at the Cambridge R&D center, including automation‑enabled high‑throughput synthesis, purification, and analytics.
• Build a high‑performing, collaborative environment through mentorship, recruiting support, and cross‑functional/external partnerships (including academic, biotech, and CRO collaborations).

• PhD in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a related field (postdoctoral training preferred).
• 6+ years of relevant post‑degree experience in peptide drug discovery (Principal) or 8+ years (Senior Principal).
• Demonstrated track record progressing programs from concept toward clinical development, evidenced by inventorship on patents and peer‑reviewed publications.
• Deep expertise in peptide design, solid‑phase peptide synthesis, and bioconjugation, with significant experience harnessing diverse high‑throughput molecular discovery tools from hit‑finding to lead‑candidate optimization.
• Experience establishing high‑throughput/parallel workflows, including parallel and combinatorial synthesis, automated mass‑directed purification, and automated analytical characterization.
• Ability to interpret and apply computational modeling and design insights, and familiarity with high‑throughput hit‑finding/optimization approaches (e.g., mRNA display, phage display, and/or DNA‑encoded library technologies).

This position is within Discovery Research:
Molecular Platform Development, a new organization being established as part of Zealand Pharma’s expanding R&D capabilities. The role reports to the Head of Molecular Platform Development and partners closely with computational research, protein sciences, biology, translational research, pharmacology, bioanalysis, and CMC colleagues to accelerate discovery and deliver high‑quality peptide‑ and bioconjugate‑based candidates.

Anticipated base pay range: $220,000 – $270,000