Associate Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry in Cambridge

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle® molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle molecules attractive candidates for drug development.

Your mission is to apply your deep expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry to design and deliver novel Bicycle® molecules and conjugates. As a key member of our project teams, you will take a leading role in chemistry workstreams, manage external CROs, and contribute significantly to the progression of our oncology pipeline, helping to deliver the next wave of clinical candidates for patients.

Responsibilities:

• Scientific Strategy & Innovation: Take a leading role in chemistry activities within a project team, contributing to the design and synthesis of novel, bioactive Bicycle® peptides that align with the Target Product Profile. Apply your expertise in structure-based drug design to interpret SAR data (activity, selectivity, DMPK) and guide the optimisation of lead compounds. Contribute to the introduction and development of new chemical innovations and technologies that expand the capabilities of the company platform.
• Project Delivery & Execution: Effectively manage chemistry activities at external contract research organizations (CROs), including developing detailed workplans, tracking progress, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality data and compounds. Critically evaluate analytical data (NMR, LCMS, HPLC) from CROs and troubleshoot synthetic challenges to ensure project goals are met. Work collaboratively with a cross-functional team of scientists across Platform, Biology, DMPK, Pharmacology, and CMC to advance projects from discovery to development. Prepare detailed reports, contribute to the drafting of patent applications, and present research findings clearly and effectively in team and management meetings.

Qualifications:

• Significant industry or academic experience in contemporary medicinal, organic, or peptide chemistry, with a proven track record in the design and synthesis of bioactive molecules.
• Experience in existing and new generation toxins / payloads is highly desirable.
• Experience in developing drug conjugates (e.g., ADCs, others) or radiopharmaceuticals is desirable.
• Experience in structure-based drug design and using computational and data analysis tools to interpret SAR data.
• Demonstrated experience in managing external chemistry resources (e.g., CROs) to achieve project goals.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently and flexibly, prioritising tasks effectively to meet company objectives.
• A collaborative team player who communicates clearly and effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

Competencies:

• Knowledge & Expertise: Core Expertise: You provide recognised expertise in medicinal chemistry, especially relating to small molecules, acting as a key resource for the team. Data / Insight: You design, interpret, and integrate complex experiments and data sets to inform project direction. Knowledge Sharing: You act as a source of expertise for colleagues, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices across the team.
• Job Complexity: Task / Project Delivery: You lead challenging projects with multiple variables, ensuring execution aligns with strategic goals. Problem-Solving: You anticipate scientific issues and develop creative and practical solutions to overcome them. Strategic Impact: You shape team priorities with your scientific insights and data-driven recommendations.
• Independence: Autonomy: You lead projects independently with minimal oversight, determining methods and procedures on new assignments. Decision-Making: You make informed decisions that influence team and project success, exercising sound scientific judgment. Leadership / Mentorship: You mentor junior colleagues and support the development of peers to build collective team capability.

Values:

• One Team: Collaboration: You act as a role model for teamwork, building strong collaborative relationships with medicinal chemists, structural biologists, and data scientists to ensure computational insights are deeply integrated with experimental project data. Inclusive Leadership: You champion inclusivity and respect within project teams, ensuring that scientific ideas from all disciplines—whether computational, chemical, or biological—are heard and valued in shaping project direction. Mentorship / Support: You provide structured mentorship to colleagues, helping to develop their skills in specific computational techniques, software platforms, and the principles of data interpretation.
• Adventurous: Innovation: You introduce new scientific approaches and computational methods, such as novel simulation techniques or machine learning models, to advance projects and enhance our drug discovery capabilities. Risk-Taking: You take calculated scientific risks by exploring and validating novel computational tools or unproven modelling targets to achieve breakthroughs and solve challenging project problems. Change Leadership: You support the adoption of new software, cloud infrastructure, and data analysis methods within the team, actively encouraging their use to improve project outcomes.
• Dedicated to our Mission: Accountability: You drive computational workstreams that directly contribute to the company's mission, taking ownership of the models and data that guide the design of potential new medicines. Resilience: You demonstrate persistence and adaptability when faced with complex scientific challenges, such as inconclusive modelling results, code that fails, or shifting project goals. Inspiration: You motivate colleagues by showing passion for our purpose and clearly articulating how advanced computational design directly contributes to the goal of creating impactful therapies for patients.

Additional Information:

• State-of-the-art campus environment with on campus restaurant and Montessori nursery
• Flexible working environment
• Competitive reward including annual company bonus
• Employee recognition schemes
• 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays + option to buy up to 5 additional days annually
• Employer contribution to pension (employee does not have to contribute)
• Life assurance cover 4x basic salary
• Private Medical Insurance, including optical and dental cover
• Enhanced parental leave policies
• Group income protection
• Employee assistance program
• Health Cash Plan
• Access to company subsidized gym membership
• Eligibility for an option grant to subscribe to shares in Bicycle Therapeutics plc.
• Cycle to work scheme

Bicycle Therapeutics is committed to building a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We recognise that diverse and inclusive teams build a stronger and more innovative company. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, or veteran status.