Director / Senior Director, Small Molecule Therapeutics
The Senior Director, Small Molecule Therapeutics at Lila Sciences will lead the biological evaluation and screening of small molecule therapeutics across the company's discovery platform. This role involves building and scaling a world-class screening organization that translates AI-designed and robotically synthesized molecules into validated biological insights and therapeutic opportunities. The position is based in Cambridge, MA, USA.
Key responsibilities include designing and implementing high-throughput and automated screening platforms to evaluate small molecules generated through Lila’s AI-driven chemistry and robotic synthesis systems. The role also involves developing and optimizing biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays to identify and validate novel small molecule hits, as well as establishing scalable automation-enabled workflows for assay execution, screening campaigns, and data generation. Additionally, the Senior Director will lead the development and implementation of DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening strategies and downstream validation pipelines.
The ideal candidate will have a PhD in Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline with 12–15 years of experience in drug discovery, or an MS/BS in a relevant scientific field with 15+ years of industry experience in small molecule drug discovery and screening. Demonstrated experience building and leading small molecule screening teams or platforms, including hiring, mentoring, and developing multidisciplinary scientists, is essential. A proven track record in designing and executing high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns for small molecule discovery, along with deep expertise in biological assay development, is also required.
Lila Sciences offers competitive compensation, including bonus potential and generous early equity. The expected base salary range for this position is $184,000 to $294,000 USD annually. The final offer will reflect the candidate's unique background, expertise, and impact.
Lila Sciences is the world’s first scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous lab for life, chemistry, and materials science. The company is pioneering a new age of boundless discovery by building the capabilities to apply AI to every aspect of the scientific method. Lila is introducing scientific superintelligence to solve humankind's greatest challenges, enabling scientists to bring forth solutions in human health, climate, and sustainability at an unprecedented pace and scale.