Drug Discovery Program leader
Paris
Project lead /
Full-time (French "CDI") /
Hybrid
About AQEMIA
AQEMIA is a next-gen pharmatech company generating one of the world's fastest-growing drug discovery pipeline.
Our mission is to design fast innovative drug candidates for dozens of critical diseases, such as immuno-oncology.
Our unique approach leverages quantum-inspired physics algorithms to power generative AI in designing novel drug candidates—without relying on experimental data.
We already delivered several drug discovery successes within our internal pipeline and through collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Our most advanced programs are currently in vivo optimization.
About the team you’ll join
Within Aqemia’s drug discovery portfolio team, Program Leaders play a critical role at Aqemia as they drive our drug discovery projects.
Objective of such projects is to invent therapeutic molecules (hits / leads) against a given target protein and related disease, leveraging our unique technology combining new Physics and Machine Learning algorithms.
Projects can be in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies to invent molecules for their targets, or within Aqemia internal project portfolio.
A project is run by a core team - ie a drug hunter, a project leader, plus part of a Chemist and Biologist - and relies on the technology and ways of working developed by Aqemia platform.
Projects typically last several months and a Project Leader can manage up to 2-3 projects at a time.
Your role as a Program Leader at Aqemia
- Be the owner of project objectives and progress towards those objectives, including potential recommendation to stop the project if the progress is not good enough.
- Clarify initial objectives, set up work plan and ways of working
- Run the project by applying the baseline technology and ways of working developed by Aqemia’s platform and ensure the feedback from the project is given to Aqemia’s technology platform in a structured and constructive way
- Manage on a day-to-day basis the evolution of the project: challenge team members to reach project objectives in time and provide thought leadership
- Manage the project team (3+ people), including giving regular feedback (good and bad) and coach the team to improve
- Drive proactively the relationship with external partners (Pharma and/or CRO), at operational and management levels
- Be the guardian of Aqemia’s ways of working in the team (how to run meetings, take decisions etc)
- Beyond the project, coordinate proactively with other Project Leaders and Aqemia Technology platform to share best-practices and suggest further technological developments to grow Aqemia
The competencies we are looking for
- You have a wealth of hands-on experience in project management: 4+ years of consulting experience and / or 6+ years of project management experience in a fast growing environment.
- You have a scientific background (Masters degree in a science field), in any scientific discipline such as Engineering, Machine Learning, Chemistry, Biology.
- You have objective-driven mindset and a high degree of organization, commitment and drive.
- You are eager to play an active role in contributing to Aqemia’s strategy to develop drugs for patients.
- You bring wealth of knowledge to inspire and coach brilliant people from diverse backgrounds.
- You are keen to solve tough problems on issues that truly matter, with a proactive and a can-do attitude.
- You thrive on working collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment that keeps everyone on track.
Preferred mindset
Our recruitment process
- 1 - Hiring Manager’s interview : you’ll meet directly with your future manager
- 2 - Technical assessment of your skills
- 3 - Cultural fit interview with our co-founder and COO Emmanuelle
- 4 - Final interview with our co-founder and CEO Maximilien
Why Join Us ?
At AQEMIA, we work for a mission: joining us means having your own impact on changing the way drugs are discovered, and helping to shape the direction of our fast-growing company and team.
Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline : Focused on critical diseases like immuno-oncology, with in vivo proof of concept/patent stage programs. Collaborations with top Pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.
Interdisciplinary Team : brilliant talent from tech and life sciences.
Experienced Leadership : Founders with 15+ years at ENS, Oxford, Cambridge, and BCG.
DeepTech Recognition: Part of French Tech 120 and France 2030.
Prime Location : Based in central Paris with the possibility of 2 remote days per week.
International Environment : English-speaking team with relocation support and French lessons if needed.
Strong Financial Backing : $60M raised from leading European deeptech investors
