Senior Scientist – Medicinal Chemistry, Oncology Targeted Discovery

Senior Scientist – Medicinal Chemistry, Oncology Targeted Discovery

Location:

Waltham, MA, US

Do you want to be at the cutting edge of innovation that will lead to state‑of‑the‑art therapies for cancer? At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life‑changing medicines. Our pioneering oncology pipeline enabled by transformative technologies drives us forward. Working here means being ambitious, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality for patients.

As a Senior Scientist within the Oncology Targeted Discovery (OTD) chemistry group, you’ll play an important role in advancing new oncology drug projects to make a positive impact on patients’ lives. This is a hands‑on laboratory position within a world leading global medicinal chemistry group and part of an important strategy to deliver highly specific therapeutics including small molecules, peptide and antibody drug conjugates with various targeting modalities to treat cancer.

In addition to our passion for the discovery of innovative new medicines, we understand the importance of flexibility in our work‑life environment, and we offer a wide variety of benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources they need to pursue not only their work goals but also their life goals. We are dedicated to building strong research teams that embrace the diversity of talents of team members and allow the larger group to grow and learn together to accomplish our collective goal to improve human health.

• Design and execute synthetic routes to prepare complex target molecules for tumor‑targeted delivery programs.
• Develop creative approaches to overcome challenging synthetic chemistry problems.
• Analyze data and interpret structure‑activity relationships (SAR) to rationally design new targets.
• Work both independently and as a team member, collaborating with colleagues across drug discovery functions, including computational chemistry and high‑throughput experimentation.
• Contribute to patent applications and scientific publications.
• Stay current with new developments in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
• Act in accordance with all AstraZeneca policies, including personnel guidelines, EHS regulations, best laboratory practices, and the Code of Conduct.

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) or equivalent focused in synthetic organic chemistry with 0+ years of relevant experience.
• A strong track record of scientific innovation and success documented through peer‑reviewed publications.
• Expert knowledge of organic synthesis and methodology, with sound understanding of reaction mechanisms and awareness of latest scientific literature.
• Strong work ethic and adherence to safe practices in the laboratory.
• Desire to grow and develop as a synthetic/medicinal chemist.

The Waltham R&D site is home to our Oncology Targeted Discovery chemistry research in North America. It is situated within a biopharma cluster of academic research institutions, medical centers, pharmaceutical companies and biotech start‑ups. The Boston region is consistently ranked #1 globally for biotech research, investment, talent recruitment and lab space.

The campus, also known as the Boston Bio Hub , is one of the largest and most dynamic life‑science research hubs in the region. It is home to more than 800 scientists and experts working in nine different pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The site is also home to the AstraZeneca Incubator, a program that helps emerging companies advance novel and innovative healthcare solutions to meet the needs of patients.

Plenty of free covered/uncovered parking is available along with charging stations for electric vehicles. Additionally, shuttle service to local transportation hubs is also available.

As AstraZeneca continues to put patients at the forefront of our mission, we are excited for our move to Kendall Square/Cambridge in 2026.

Find out more information here:
Kendall Square Press Release

At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place To Work. A place where employees are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash their…