Associate Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry, TTD, Early Oncology

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. O ur 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 the patients .

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven, integrated biopharmaceutical company. Our mission is to make a meaningful difference to patient health through great medicines that bring benefit for patients and add new value for society. We discover, develop, manufacture and market prescription medicines for important areas of healthcare, which include some of the world’s most serious illnesses: cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. We are driven by a shared goal to make a positive impact on the lives of patients with these serious diseases. Oncology is a core therapy area and growth platform at AstraZeneca and our vision is to deliver life-changing medicines that improve outcomes for patients most in need.

This Opportunity

The newly hired Associate Principal Scientist will contribute to and influence small molecule ligand discovery within the tumor targeted delivery (TTD) chemistry group. This role is part of an important strategy to deliver highly specific therapeutics including, small molecule , peptide and antibody drug/prodrug /degrader conjugates with various targeting modalities to treat cancer. The job posting is for our group at Boston/Waltham location .

Core Accountabilities:

• De vise and implement medicinal chemistry strategies that enable the discovery of novel, differentiated small molecule candidates for tumor targeted delivery programs

• Analyze structural, pharmacological, physicochemical and ADMET data to derive SAR

• Apply expertise and know-how of modern medicinal chemistry principles to generate innovative new target designs and drive programs to achieve milestones

• Work with computational chemistry colleagues to develop hypothesis driven solutions to overcome medicinal chemistry challenges

• Set clear priorities and leverage CRO resources to prepare target molecules in a timely manner

• Design and execute synthetic routes to target molecules

• Act as a role model and mentor for medicinal chemistry colleagues

• Exhibit leadership and team player behaviors, collaborating with colleagues from diverse drug discovery functions

• Participate in program team meetings, and p repare written project update s and presentations for TTD leadership

• Take a lead role in writing patent applications, peer-reviewed articles, and abstracts for scientific conferences

• Work safely in accordance with safety, health & environment (SHE) best practices

Essential Requirements:

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) focused o n synthetic organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry with 3 + years of experience in biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry setting ( OR M.Sc. degree focused in synthetic organic chemistry with 8 + years of experience ) , and a strong track record of scientific innovation and success documented through peer-reviewed publications and patents

• Subject matter expert in organic synthesis and methodology , with general knowledge of the mechanis ms of chemical reactivity and awareness of latest scientific literature .

• Experience in small molecule drug discovery with t rack record of excellence in achieving program milestones

• Strong work ethic and adherence to s afe practices in the laboratory

Site Location

The Waltham R&D site is home to our small-molecule oncology 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 BioHub , 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

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we a re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work . A place w here employees are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash their entrepreneurial spirit. There is no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development.

So, what i s next?

A place built on courage, curiosity, and collaboration – we make bold decisions driven by patient outcomes. Empowered to lead at every level, free to ask questions and take calculated risks that write the next chapter for our pipeline. If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and passionate about the possibilities, then we are keen to hear from you!

“ When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world .”