Director/Sr. Director - Medicinal Chemistry (synthetic macrocycles)
Eli Lilly and Company
August 11, 2026
Remote friendly (San Francisco, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Director/Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana; San Francisco, CA | Function: Macrocycle Chemistry, Advanced Molecule Design (AMD)
About The Role
Eli Lilly and Company seeks an experienced Director/Senior Director to join the AMD Medicinal Chemistry organization in Indianapolis, Indiana. Contribute across Cardiometabolic & Renal, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology by applying macrocyclic peptide design and small molecule ADME/DMPK to advance drug candidates into and through development.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides across multiple therapeutic areas
- Use SAR to drive iterative DMTA cycles balancing potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties
- Optimize oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, permeability, and PK profiles using ADME/DMPK
- Act as a subject matter expert resolving scientific challenges and advancing programs through milestones
- Collaborate with Biology, DMPK, Computational Chemistry, and other partners to execute molecule design strategies
- Participate in program strategy (TPP development, go/no-go frameworks)
- Identify capability gaps and champion improved strategies, including AI/ML-enabled design
- Communicate findings to stakeholders; maintain ELN documentation per IP/regulatory requirements
- Lead or contribute to continuous improvement and coaching
Basic Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Medicinal/Organic/Peptide Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or related field with 8+ years pharma/biotech drug discovery experience; or BS/MS with 15+ years equivalent experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience designing/synthesizing macrocyclic peptides or macrocyclic small molecules
- Strong ADME/DMPK foundation (oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, PK/PD)
- Proven multidisciplinary collaboration; experience across multiple therapeutic areas/modalities
- Experience with challenging/undrugged targets; track record advancing programs to candidate selection
- Publications/patents/scientific contributions; excellent written/oral communication
Benefits
- Competitive compensation; full-time employees eligible for company bonus and comprehensive benefits (e.g., 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, well-being benefits).
Application
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana; San Francisco, CA | Function: Macrocycle Chemistry, Advanced Molecule Design (AMD)
About The Role
Eli Lilly and Company seeks an experienced Director/Senior Director to join the AMD Medicinal Chemistry organization in Indianapolis, Indiana. Contribute across Cardiometabolic & Renal, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Oncology by applying macrocyclic peptide design and small molecule ADME/DMPK to advance drug candidates into and through development.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and synthesize macrocyclic small molecules and macrocyclic peptides across multiple therapeutic areas
- Use SAR to drive iterative DMTA cycles balancing potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties
- Optimize oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, permeability, and PK profiles using ADME/DMPK
- Act as a subject matter expert resolving scientific challenges and advancing programs through milestones
- Collaborate with Biology, DMPK, Computational Chemistry, and other partners to execute molecule design strategies
- Participate in program strategy (TPP development, go/no-go frameworks)
- Identify capability gaps and champion improved strategies, including AI/ML-enabled design
- Communicate findings to stakeholders; maintain ELN documentation per IP/regulatory requirements
- Lead or contribute to continuous improvement and coaching
Basic Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Medicinal/Organic/Peptide Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or related field with 8+ years pharma/biotech drug discovery experience; or BS/MS with 15+ years equivalent experience
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience designing/synthesizing macrocyclic peptides or macrocyclic small molecules
- Strong ADME/DMPK foundation (oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, PK/PD)
- Proven multidisciplinary collaboration; experience across multiple therapeutic areas/modalities
- Experience with challenging/undrugged targets; track record advancing programs to candidate selection
- Publications/patents/scientific contributions; excellent written/oral communication
Benefits
- Competitive compensation; full-time employees eligible for company bonus and comprehensive benefits (e.g., 401(k), pension, vacation, medical/dental/vision/prescription, flexible benefits, life insurance, time off/leave, well-being benefits).
Application
- If you require accommodation to submit a resume, complete the workplace accommodation request form: https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation