Novartis Posted July 22, 2026

Computational Medicinal Chemist

San Diego, United States Regular
Data & Digital

Novartis is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

Join our vibrant and innovative Computer-Aided Drug Discovery (CADD) team in California, where we bring together diverse talents to redefine the way Biomedical Research discovery teams validate and develop new targets. We are a driving force behind drug discovery, and we are now eagerly searching for an exceptional computational scientist like you to join our ranks.Imagine the opportunity to unlock hidden knowledge and disruptive insights from the vast and invaluable data collected by one of the world's most renowned pharmaceutical companies. We need your expertise, experience, and unwavering passion to help us extract this wealth of information. Collaborating with a multidisciplinary group of scientists, you will be at the forefront of crafting inventive solutions to the most pressing drug discovery challenges, forging new paths toward groundbreaking medicines.Are you ready to seize this extraordinary chance to make a significant impact in the field of drug discovery? We invite you to embark on this thrilling journey with us, as we push the boundaries of what's possible in scientific exploration. Join our team and be part of a revolution that will shape the future of medicine.Together, we will transform the landscape of drug discovery, accelerate breakthroughs, and change lives. Apply now and let your expertise shine in our dynamic and forward-thinking environment.

Internal Job Title: Senior Expert I/II, Data SciencePosition Location: San Diego, CA, hybridYour Responsibilities Include:Drive the design of medicinal chemistry efforts by applying in-depth knowledge of structure-activity relationships (SAR), structure-based and ligand-based drug design, a profound understanding of target biology, and predictive methods for assessing on- and off-target activity, physical properties, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), and synthetic feasibility.Thrive at the intersection of experimental and groundbreaking digital technologies, with a particular emphasis on expertise in machine learning, active learning and physics-based CADD methodologies as applied to small molecule drug discovery as well as in the induced proximity space.Stay abreast of scientific literature and engage with internal and external scientists to incorporate biological insights into lead characterization and screening initiatives.Collaborate with interdisciplinary project teams to facilitate effective decision-making throughout the target identification, lead optimization and drug candidate nomination process. This involves applying and developing predictive models based on high-content and time-resolved screening data, including imaging techniques.Drive hypothesis generation to enhance clinical success rates for programs involving small molecules, peptides, RNAs, protein degradation, molecular glues, transient covalent inhibitors, and kinetic stabilization of drug-target complexes.Take a leading role in cross-disciplinary mechanistic studies using physics-based modeling and simulation, biophysical characterization, and cellular validation. These studies will inform the strategic targeting strategies of discovery projects, aiming for optimal mechanisms of action (MoAs).Essential Requirements:PhD in medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, computational biology, computational chemical biology, or a related field.  Candidates with a laboratory-based background in chemistry and biology, supplemented with strong computational experience, are also encouraged to apply.  We will also consider MS applicants with 6+ years of relevant Pharma/biotech experience.3+ years of experience working with project teams in a drug discovery environment.Proven track record of innovation through analogue design, leading to significant impact on discovery projects.Familiarity with computational drug design tools (e.g. Schrdoinger, CCG, OpenEye, etc.), high-performance computing environments, and strong publication history in peer-reviewed journals.Proactively anticipates project needs with a clinical focus.Demonstrates rigor and diligence in idea substantiation, analogue design, and experimentation.Strong team orientation with multitasking and adaptability in support and leadership roles.Effective listener with excellent written and oral communication skills.Proficient in data visualization to effectively communicate insights.Compensation & Benefits:The salary for this position is expected to range between $126,000 and $234,000 USD annually for Senior Expert I, Data Science, and $138,600 and $257,400 USD annually for Senior Expert II, Data Science. The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

Job details

Seniority
Not listed
Function
Data & Digital
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
San Diego, United States
Employment type
Regular

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Data & Digital role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 292 comparable Data & Digital roles across 41 biopharma companies.

292Comparable roles tracked
273Currently active
41Companies hiring similar roles
20Countries represented

Salary context

59 of 292 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.

This roleSubject $126,000/yr – $234,000/yr
Lowest disclosed · Data Engineer, PDS&T CMC · AbbVie $65,500/yr – $125,500/yr
Peer group range $95,500 – $339,950 (median $198,000)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 292 comparable roles

India112
United States84
France22
Spain16
United Kingdom8
Canada7

+ 14 more countries

Seniority mix

158 of 292 peers have a known seniority level

Senior57
Manager31
Associate Director20
Director16
Principal16
Associate8
Executive/VP7
Senior Director3

Therapeutic area mix

6 of 292 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Immunology3
Oncology2
Ophthalmology1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

40%similar
Lilly Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
Same function Same country
40%similar
Gilead Sciences, Inc. Foster City, United States Director
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40%similar
Novartis Cambridge (USA), United States
Same function Same country
40%similar
Novartis Cambridge (USA), United States
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40%similar
Novartis Remote Position (USA), United States Director
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40%similar
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) Tarrytown, United States Executive/VP
Same function Same country

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

40%
Agentic AI Data Engineer - CMC Data Integration
Lilly · Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America · Seniority not listed
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
AI Scientist – Image Analysis & Digital Pathology
Novartis · Cambridge (USA), United States · Seniority not listed
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
Executive Director, Responsible AI & Enterprise Governance
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) · Tarrytown, United States · Executive/VP
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
40%
Principal Statistical Programmer
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc (USA) · Warren, United States · Principal
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.