Principal Chemist Jobs
Principal Chemist jobs are open across pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, materials science, and consumer products, covering specializations in analytical chemistry, process chemistry, and formulation, from senior chemist to principal and staff scientist. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Principal Chemist JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 10+ Principal Chemist jobs
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: Principal Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist
As a Principal Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be a key figure in our small molecule drug discovery engine, guiding the design and synthesis of innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of animals. You will apply your scientific expertise to advance multiple therapeutic programs, from lead generation to development candidate selection. Partnering with a global, cross-functional team of scientists, you will leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI/ML and DNA-Encoded Libraries to solve complex chemical challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on our discovery portfolio and help shape the future of our growing research team in Indianapolis.
Your Responsibilities:
- Drive the design and optimization of novel small molecules by leveraging advanced synthetic strategies and integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data to guide structure–activity relationship (SAR) campaigns
- Lead medicinal chemistry initiatives within multidisciplinary teams, partnering with Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to drive the strategic progression of drug discovery programs.
- Serve as a key medicinal chemistry figure on multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with partners in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to strategically advance discovery programs.
- Direct synthetic chemistry efforts with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners, ensuring the efficient execution of project goals and timelines.
- Leverage cutting-edge drug discovery technologies, including DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, and AI/ML-enabled tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.
- Drive IP strategy by exploring novel chemical space and developing patent applications in collaboration with the IP team.
- Promote scientific excellence and data integrity while providing mentorship and technical guidance to junior scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience: A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or animal health research environment.
- Top Skills: Demonstrated expertise in modern medicinal chemistry, including the design and multi-step synthesis of complex small molecules, and a strong understanding of Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR), pharmacology, and ADME/PK principles. Proven ability to autonomously manage scientific initiatives within a cross-functional team and manage external collaborations with CROs.
What will give you a strong candidate profile (preferred qualifications):
- Postdoctoral experience.
- Experience applying modern drug discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, or AI/ML-enabled molecular design.
- A strong track record of advancing small-molecule discovery programs toward preclinical development, evidenced by significant patent and/or publication contributions.
- Prior research experience in the animal health industry.
- Expertise in peptide chemistry, macrocycles, or related drug modalities.
Additional Information:
- Travel: Less than 10%
- Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks: We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
- Multiple relocation packages
- Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
- 8-week parental leave
- 9 Employee Resource Groups
- Annual bonus offering
- Flexible work arrangements
- Up to 6% 401K matching
#LI-RH1
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!
Your Role: Principal Research Scientist - Medicinal Chemist
As a Principal Research Scientist in Medicinal Chemistry, you will be a key figure in our small molecule drug discovery engine, guiding the design and synthesis of innovative medicines that improve the health and well-being of animals. You will apply your scientific expertise to advance multiple therapeutic programs, from lead generation to development candidate selection. Partnering with a global, cross-functional team of scientists, you will leverage cutting-edge technologies like AI/ML and DNA-Encoded Libraries to solve complex chemical challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on our discovery portfolio and help shape the future of our growing research team in Indianapolis.
Your Responsibilities:
- Drive the design and optimization of novel small molecules by leveraging advanced synthetic strategies and integrating biological, pharmacological, and ADME/PK data to guide structure–activity relationship (SAR) campaigns
- Lead medicinal chemistry initiatives within multidisciplinary teams, partnering with Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to drive the strategic progression of drug discovery programs.
- Serve as a key medicinal chemistry figure on multidisciplinary project teams, collaborating with partners in Biology, Pharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, and Computational Sciences to strategically advance discovery programs.
- Direct synthetic chemistry efforts with external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal partners, ensuring the efficient execution of project goals and timelines.
- Leverage cutting-edge drug discovery technologies, including DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, and AI/ML-enabled tools, to accelerate hit identification and lead optimization.
- Drive IP strategy by exploring novel chemical space and developing patent applications in collaboration with the IP team.
- Promote scientific excellence and data integrity while providing mentorship and technical guidance to junior scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):
- Education: PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
- Experience: A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant industry experience in medicinal chemistry within a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or animal health research environment.
- Top Skills: Demonstrated expertise in modern medicinal chemistry, including the design and multi-step synthesis of complex small molecules, and a strong understanding of Structure-Activity Relationships (SAR), pharmacology, and ADME/PK principles. Proven ability to autonomously manage scientific initiatives within a cross-functional team and manage external collaborations with CROs.
What will give you a strong candidate profile (preferred qualifications):
- Postdoctoral experience.
- Experience applying modern drug discovery technologies such as DNA-Encoded Libraries (DEL), computational chemistry, or AI/ML-enabled molecular design.
- A strong track record of advancing small-molecule discovery programs toward preclinical development, evidenced by significant patent and/or publication contributions.
- Prior research experience in the animal health industry.
- Expertise in peptide chemistry, macrocycles, or related drug modalities.
Additional Information:
- Travel: Less than 10%
- Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN - Hybrid Work Environment
Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!
Elanco Benefits and Perks: We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:
- Multiple relocation packages
- Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)
- 8-week parental leave
- 9 Employee Resource Groups
- Annual bonus offering
- Flexible work arrangements
- Up to 6% 401K matching
#LI-RH1
Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.
Principal Chemist Jobs by Experience Level
See All 10 Principal Chemist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Chemist JobsPrincipal Chemist Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Chemicals & Materials
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal chemist jobs.
- PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related field
- 7 or more years of hands-on laboratory or process chemistry experience
- Proficiency with analytical instrumentation such as HPLC, NMR, GC-MS, or ICP-MS
- Experience leading research projects and mentoring junior scientists
- Knowledge of cGMP, FDA regulations, or relevant industry compliance frameworks
- Strong scientific writing skills for patents, technical reports, and regulatory submissions
Tips for Your Principal Chemist Job Search
Tailor your resume to lab scale
Hiring managers for principal chemist roles want to see the scale of your work: batch sizes, throughput, and the instrumentation you've owned. List specific techniques like NMR, HPLC, or GC-MS alongside the context in which you used them, not just as a skills inventory.
Highlight cross-functional project leadership
Principal chemist postings almost always require coordination with engineering, regulatory, or manufacturing teams. Call out projects where you led technical direction across departments, since that collaboration signal separates principal-level candidates from senior-level ones.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal chemist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by regulatory context
Whether a role sits under FDA, EPA, or OSHA oversight shapes what experience the employer actually values. Filter your search by industry to avoid wasting applications on postings where your regulatory background won't translate directly to their compliance environment.
Prepare a technical presentation before interviews
Many principal chemist interviews include a whiteboard session or a prepared talk on a past project. Rehearse a 15-minute narrative around a problem you solved, the method you chose, and the outcome, so you're not building that story on the spot.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
At the principal level, budget authority, patent naming rights, and direct report structure are often negotiable. When you get an offer, ask explicitly about lab budget ownership and whether the role carries mentorship responsibilities, since those shape your long-term career leverage as much as pay does.
Principal Chemist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal chemists?
The most active employers for principal chemists right now are SLB, Elanco, and Henkel, and the most openings are in Texas, Indiana, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, specialty chemical producers, and consumer goods companies consistently post the highest volume of principal-level roles.
How many principal chemist jobs are remote?
About 67% of principal chemist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on lab requirements most roles carry. Computational chemistry, cheminformatics, and regulatory affairs-adjacent principal chemist roles are the most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements.
How do you become a principal chemist?
Most principal chemist roles require a PhD in chemistry or a related discipline followed by several years of progressively independent research or development work. Build depth in a specific subdiscipline, such as analytical, synthetic, or formulation chemistry, take ownership of full project cycles, and demonstrate that you can guide the technical direction of a team rather than just execute within one.
Can you get hired as a principal chemist without direct principal-level experience?
Yes, candidates who have functioned at the principal level without the official title can make a strong case by documenting project ownership, mentorship of junior staff, and cross-functional technical leadership in their application materials. Focus your resume on outcomes you drove independently, patents or publications you led, and decisions you made without escalating to a supervisor, since those signals matter more than a title match.
What does the principal chemist interview process look like?
Most principal chemist interview processes include an initial screening call with a recruiter or HR contact, a technical phone or video interview with the hiring manager, and an on-site or virtual loop with scientists and cross-functional partners. Candidates are frequently asked to present a past research project and walk through their methodology, decision-making, and results, so preparation on a specific case study is essential before the final round.
Where can I find and apply to principal chemist jobs?
You can find and apply to principal chemist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and specialization, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 10 Principal Chemist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Chemist Jobs