Senior Scientist - Molecular Design & Synthesis

Illumina seeks a Senior Scientist to design, synthesize, and optimize novel molecular architectures for next-generation sequencing technologies. The role combines hands-on chemistry with computational molecular design and cheminformatics, requiring expertise across the full design-make-test-learn cycle.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize novel molecular constructs using computational chemistry and structure-property relationships
• Execute synthetic routes for peptides, oligonucleotides, linkers, and conjugates with optimization for yield and purity
• Characterize molecules using analytical techniques and develop predictive models correlating molecular features with performance
• Drive design-make-test-learn workflows and collaborate across cross-functional teams in chemistry, biology, and bioinformatics
• Provide technical leadership, mentor junior scientists, and contribute to intellectual property development

Requirements

• Demonstrated expertise in molecular design, synthetic chemistry, and characterization
• Proven ability to independently drive complex scientific projects from concept to execution
• Experience integrating computational and experimental approaches to solve scientific problems
• Proficiency with cheminformatics tools, molecular modeling, and data-driven design approaches
• Strong background in synthesis techniques including SPPS, oligonucleotide synthesis, and bioconjugation
• Experience with analytical characterization methods such as LC-MS and HPLC