AI R&D Manager

About AQEMIA

AQEMIA is a drug invention company dedicated to creating entirely new medicines to address major unmet medical needs. At the core of our mission is QEMI , our proprietary molecule‑invention platform that uniquely combines cutting‑edge science with advanced technology. Powered by physics‑based modeling, statistical mechanics, and generative AI, QEMI allows our teams to design novel drug candidates from first principles.

What makes AQEMIA different is our commitment to true innovation: our research is dedicated to the invention of new molecular entities, not the refinement of existing ones. We focus on inventing never‑before‑seen molecules , without relying on experimental data, and advancing them into a growing pipeline of proprietary programs and strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.

Our most advanced preclinical programs are currently in vivo optimization , targeting diseases that still lack effective treatments, offering our teams the opportunity to work on science that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

About Our Team

AQEMIA brings together a diverse, multidisciplinary team of 80+ professionals based in Paris and London. Our scientists and engineers – including chemists, physicists, machine learning experts, and software engineers – work side by side to push the boundaries of early‑stage drug discovery.

This close collaboration across disciplines is central to our approach, enabling us to tackle complex scientific challenges from first principles and translate cutting‑edge ideas into novel therapeutic candidates. At AQEMIA, team members are encouraged to contribute their expertise, learn from one another, and play an active role in shaping the future of drug invention.

About Our Platform Department

The Platform team (≈20 people) builds scalable and reproducible workflows that enable multiple drug discovery programs to run in parallel with minimal manual intervention.

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (application and research)
• Data science
• Physics: Statistical mechanics and molecular simulations
• Computational chemistry/CADD

At the center of this ecosystem is the “Rocket Launcher” process: an industrialized workflow that continuously launches, tests, and improves drug discovery projects through iterative scientific feedback loops.

The Role

As Manager of the Molecular Generation Team, you will lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for developing methods that design novel, highly potent, and synthesizable molecules. You will leverage physics‑based methods and state‑of‑the‑art machine‑learning techniques to guide molecular design, focusing on 3D structural constraints and target interactions.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic & Technical Leadership:
• Define and execute the roadmap for developing structure‑based AI generative models.
• Establish clear, measurable KPIs for synthesis success and novelty of generated molecules.
• Drive the integration of physics‑based calculations into the generative machine‑learning workflow to enhance the chemical realism and relevance of generated molecules.
• People & Team Management:
• Hire, manage, and mentor a highly skilled team of 6+ scientists, including AI research scientists and computational chemists.
• Own the recruitment process for key technical hires, ensuring the team maintains world‑class expertise at the intersection of chemistry, physics, and AI.
• Foster a culture of high performance, psychological safety, and continuous learning, providing technical guidance and growth opportunities for individual contributors.
• Collaboration & Delivery:
• Ensure seamless handoff of the molecular generation algorithm to downstream teams.
• Enable integration of physics and AI‑based predictors in the molecular generation workflow.
• Communicate complex scientific progress and strategic risks clearly.

What We’re Looking For

• Master’s degree or PhD in Machine Learning, Computational Chemistry, Statistical Mechanics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience leading a machine‑learning or computational R&D team in drug discovery or a closely related field.
• Proven expertise in generative AI techniques.
• Proficiency in Python, experience with MLOps and cloud computing environments.
• Ability to translate fundamental scientific research into a clear, scalable product roadmap that aligns with commercial goals.
• Exceptional ability to communicate complex concepts to both specialized scientists and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage risk, handle scientific failure inherent in R&D, and lead an autonomous team in a fast‑paced startup environment.

Preferred Mindset

• Pragmatic and Impact‑Driven – focused on delivering solutions that work in real‑world applications, balancing scientific rigor with practical usability.
• Eagerness to Learn – a strong curiosity for scientific advancements and a willingness to continuously expand your expertise.
• Love for High Scientific Challenges – enthusiasm for tackling complex problems at the frontier of AI and drug discovery.
• Team‑Oriented – a collaborative spirit, thriving in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Humility – open to feedback and different perspectives, always striving for improvement.

Why Join Us

• Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline: Focused on critical therapeutic areas such as Oncology, CNS, and Immuno‑inflammation, with in‑vivo proof of concept and patent‑stage programs, and collaborations with top pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.
• World‑Class Interdisciplinary Team: Work alongside exceptional talent at the intersection of AI, physics‑based modeling, biology, and medicinal chemistry.
• DeepTech Recognition: AQEMIA is part of the French Tech 120 and France 2030, highlighting our role as a key DeepTech player in Europe.
• Prime Location with Flexibility: Offices in the heart of Paris and London (King’s Cross), with flexible work arrangements including up to two remote days per week.
• Strong Financial Backing: $100M raised from leading European and international investors.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.