Full-Time

Staff Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist

Machine Learning

Posted on 10/7/2025

Septerna

Septerna

51-200 employees

Licenses GPCR discovery platform to pharma

Compensation Overview

$140k - $185k/yr

+ Annual target bonus

San Bruno, CA, USA

In Person

Category
AI & Machine Learning (2)
,
Requirements
  • Ph.D. in a quantitative field (e.g., Data Science, Computer Science, Chemistry) with 5+ years of relevant industry experience
  • Strong understanding of the principles and application of machine learning in drug discovery
  • Proven experience in building and deploying ML models for tasks such as chemical property prediction or hit identification
  • Proficiency in handling and analyzing chemical data using relevant tools and libraries (e.g., RDKit)
  • Experience with various molecular representations (SMILES, fingerprints, graphs)
  • Strong programming skills in Python and experience with relevant data science and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch)
  • Familiarity with databases and experience working with large datasets
  • Experience with cloud computing platforms for ML model training and data storage
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills
Responsibilities
  • Apply machine learning techniques (e.g., deep learning, graph neural networks, ensemble methods) to drug hit finding and molecular property prediction
  • Work extensively with chemical data, including various molecular representations (e.g., SMILES, molecular graphs, fingerprints)
  • Utilize machine learning libraries, platforms, and infrastructure to build, train, and evaluate models
  • Collaborate closely with chemists, biologists, and other data scientists to understand project goals and translate them into data science solutions
  • Develop and implement robust data pipelines for preparing and analyzing chemical and biological data
  • Evaluate the performance of models using appropriate metrics and iterate to improve their accuracy and applicability
  • Communicate findings and insights clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Stay current with the latest advancements in machine learning for drug discovery and recommend their adoption where appropriate
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience working with DNA-encoded library (DEL) data and analysis
  • Familiarity with cheminformatics and/or computational chemistry techniques
  • Working knowledge of AWS solutions for ML and data science (e.g. Athena, Sagemaker, Batch)

Septerna develops and licenses a platform called Native Complex™ that enables drug discovery on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) outside of cells. The platform reproduces GPCRs with their original structure, function, and dynamics, allowing scientists to design drugs based on GPCR structures and to perform ultra-large-scale screening across the full GPCR target class. This helps unlock GPCR targets that were previously hard to study and could lead to new medicines. The company differentiates itself by offering an industrial-scale, structure-based discovery workflow specifically for GPCRs, paired with a licensing business model for pharmaceutical companies. Its goal is to expand therapeutic options by turning more GPCRs—previously considered undruggable—into viable drug targets and to bring GPCR-targeted medicines to market through licensing and partnerships.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2022

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $548.7M cash as of December 2025 funds operations into 2029.
  • $2.2B Novo Nordisk deal provides $195M upfront for obesity programs.
  • Positive Phase 1 SEP-631 data supports Phase 2b in H2 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Vertex acquires Septerna's GPCR program for $47.5M, eroding pipeline.
  • SEP-479 Phase 1 reveals hypercalcemia toxicity by late 2026, halting program.
  • Novo Nordisk terminates $2.2B deal in 12 months after internal successes.

What makes Septerna unique

  • Native Complex™ Platform reconstitutes GPCRs with native structure for industrial-scale screening.
  • Unlocks undruggable GPCRs via structure-based design and ultra-large library screening.
  • Enables novel oral small molecules across endocrinology, immunology, and metabolic diseases.

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Benefits

Stock Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

0%
The Associated Press
Mar 9th, 2026
Septerna reports positive Phase 1 data for SEP-631 with Phase 2b trial planned for second half 2026

Septerna, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on G protein-coupled receptor drug discovery, has reported positive Phase 1 results for SEP-631, its oral small molecule for mast cell diseases, and announced plans to initiate a Phase 2b trial in chronic spontaneous urticaria in the second half of 2026. The company's SEP-631 demonstrated favourable safety, convenient once-daily dosing and robust suppression of wheal formation in healthy volunteers. Septerna is also advancing SEP-479 towards Phase 1 initiation in the first half of 2026 for hypoparathyroidism. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totalled $548.7 million as of 31 December 2025. The company expects its cash runway to support operations at least into 2029. Full-year 2025 revenue reached $46.0 million, compared to $1.1 million in 2024, driven by collaboration payments from Novo Nordisk.

GlobeNewswire
Jan 8th, 2026
Septerna Expands Leadership with Appointment of Industry Veteran Mark A. Wilson as Chief Legal Officer

Septerna expands leadership with appointment of industry veteran Mark A. Wilson as Chief Legal Officer. January 08, 2026 16:05 ET | Source: Septerna, Inc. SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Septerna, Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new era of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Mark A. Wilson as Chief Legal Officer. Mr. Wilson is an accomplished pharmaceutical and biotech executive with more than 25 years of experience across intellectual property, corporate legal, strategic collaborations and corporate governance matters. "We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the team," said Jeffrey Finer, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Septerna. "His deep expertise across intellectual property strategy and corporate legal matters will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our governance framework and maximize the value of our portfolio and proprietary Native Complex Platform(TM). Mark's leadership will be vital as we scale the capabilities needed to execute on our long-term strategy and deliver new medicines for patients." "Septerna represents an extraordinary opportunity to be part of a company that is transforming GPCR drug discovery," said Mr. Wilson. "I am excited to join this talented team and contribute to the advancement of innovative therapies that have the potential to make a meaningful difference for patients." Mr. Wilson joins Septerna from Nektar Therapeutics, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. In this role, he served as chief attorney and senior manager for the legal, human resources, and information technology departments, and was a member of the company's executive committee. During his tenure, Mr. Wilson served as lead attorney for several significant global development and commercialization collaborations, strategic corporate transactions and alternative financings, and he was responsible for the company's global patent strategy. He joined Nektar in 2002 as Patent Counsel and held roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of Intellectual Property and General Counsel. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wilson was an associate at Reed & Associates, a patent law firm in Menlo Park, California, where he represented both start-up and Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Wilson holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and a B.S. in Pharmacy from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the State Bar of California. About Septerna Septerna, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a world-class team of GPCR experts and drug developers advancing cutting-edge science to unlock the full potential of GPCR therapies for patients with significant unmet needs. The company's proprietary Native Complex Platform(TM) is designed to enable new approaches to GPCR drug discovery and has led to the development of a diverse pipeline of novel oral small molecule drug candidates. Septerna is advancing programs in endocrinology, immunology and inflammation, metabolic diseases and additional therapeutic areas, both independently and with partners. For more information, please visit www.septerna.com.

Stock Titan
Sep 29th, 2025
Septerna Appoints Veteran Biotechnology Leader Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., to its Board of Directors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Septerna, Inc. (NASDAQ: SEPN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new era of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug discovery, today announced the appointment of Keith Gottesdiener, M.D., to its board of directors.

The Healthcare Technology Report
Sep 3rd, 2025
Lilly Reaches $1.3B Obesity Drug Discovery Deal with Superluminal

Novo recently announced a $2.2 billion partnership with Septerna to develop small-molecule obesity drugs.

LeadsOnTrees
May 16th, 2025
Septerna Secures $2.2B for GPCR Innovation

Septerna has secured $2.2 billion to advance GPCR drug discovery and enhance patient care. The company may be interested in solutions related to collaborative drug development, clinical trials, pharmaceutical equipment, biotech partnerships, and innovative therapies.

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