Senior Computational Chemist

Manpower LifeScience, a recruitment firm specialized in the biotechnology sector, is supporting a cutting-edge biotech company based in Lyon in the recruitment of a Senior Computational Chemist on a permanent contract.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced scientist eager to join a high-impact environment at the intersection of AI, chemistry, and next-generation peptide therapeutics.

Senior Computational Chemist (Permanent / CDI)

About the Company

Founded in 2023, the company is pioneering an AI-powered platform that designs drug-like, cyclic peptide-based therapeutics entirely from scratch-even in the absence of structural or biological data.

Backed by top-tier investors and supported by Bpifrance, this fast-growing biotech is shaping the future of drug discovery through innovation in oncology and rare diseases. It combines scientific excellence with a bold vision to improve access to next-generation therapeutics.

Your Role

• Lead the computational design and optimization of peptide-based drug candidates
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (AI, medicinal chemistry, biology) to advance discovery from concept to candidate
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the R&D team
• Coordinate project planning, workflows, and timelines across disciplines
• Act as a key interface between scientific leadership and operational execution
• Contribute strategic insight to the development of in-house modeling pipelines and tools

Your Profile

• PhD in Computational Chemistry, Molecular Modeling, or related discipline
• At least 5 years of experience in drug discovery (biotech, pharma, or academic-industry collaborations)
• Demonstrated leadership or mentorship capabilities within scientific teams
• Strong expertise in:
• Molecular modeling
• Molecular dynamics simulations
• Docking and scoring techniques
• Proficiency with tools such as AMBER, GROMACS, Gaussian, or similar
• Ability to work across disciplines and bring structure to collaborative research
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills

Note: While peptide-specific experience is a plus, candidates with strong computational chemistry expertise and the ability to learn quickly are encouraged to apply.

What's Offered

• A permanent position (CDI) in a high-potential biotech environment
• The opportunity to shape an ambitious drug discovery platform from the ground up
• Equity options
• A science-driven, mission-focused team culture rooted in excellence and collaboration

If you're ready to take on a strategic, hands-on scientific role in a thriving biotech setting - we'd love to hear from you.

Location: Lyon, France

Work mode: On-site (with 4 remote days per month)

Salary: €54,000 gross/year, negotiable depending on experience

Contract type: Full-time, permanent

Relocation & Benefits: Relocation support based on distance, equity options, 100% health insurance for employee and children, 75% public transport reimbursement

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, background, or identity.