Scientist III, Discovery Chemistry (Synthetic Chemistry)

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.

Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.

Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.

The Position

Arrowhead is seeking a highly motivated Scientist III to join our Discovery Chemistry team at our San Diego site, with a primary focus on ligand and linker synthesis. In this role, you will apply your expertise in organic synthesis to support the development and optimization of siRNA-based therapeutics. This laboratory-based position is ideal for a scientist who enjoys solving challenging synthetic problems, developing reliable methods, and delivering high-quality compounds for biological evaluation.

This role is onsite 5 days a week in San Diego.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot organic synthesis workflows.
• Purify and characterize compounds, including ligands and linkers, using chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.
• Coordinate internal and external compound production to support project timelines.
• Monitor scientific literature and apply emerging findings to propose innovative, testable chemical approaches.
• Maintain accurate and thorough records in an electronic laboratory notebook.
• Follow safe laboratory practices.

Requirements

• PhD in organic chemistry or medicinal chemistry
• 0–5 years of post-PhD research experience in organic synthesis.
• Proficiency in analytical techniques, particularly NMR spectroscopy, HPLC, and LC-MS.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop synthetic strategies, solve complex chemistry problems, and guide compound design decisions.

Preferred

• Experience with siRNA or antisense oligonucleotides.
• Experience in medicinal chemistry.
• Experience in conjugation chemistry, such as antibody–drug conjugate (ADC).

California pay range

$115,000—$130,000 USD

Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.

Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.

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