Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry

Pliant Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the discovery and development of novel integrin-based therapeutics. Based in South San Francisco, California, Pliant was founded in 2015 to develop therapeutics to modulate specific pathways upregulated or dysfunctional in certain diseases. Our approach involves developing novel integrin-based therapeutics to treat solid tumors and other diseases. Integrins are a crucial link between a cell's internal structure and its external environment and function in cell signaling, regulation and adhesion as well as wound healing and immune response. Founded by a team of world-renowned researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, this group discovered key insights into the integrin biology and developed small molecule therapeutics to target this devastating disease process. Launched in 2016 by Third Rock Ventures, a leading healthcare venture capital firm, Pliant has developed an industry-leading proprietary library of over 15,000 integrins that serve as a key driver to its portfolio. We believe our platform may be broadly applicable across multiple disease areas including delivery of drug payloads to cells utilizing integrin receptor-binding molecules as tissue-specific delivery and internalization mechanisms. Currently, Pliant is conducting a Phase 1 study of PLN-101095, a small molecule, dual-selective inhibitor of αvß8 and αvß1 integrins, that has shown encouraging clinical activity in the development of a treatment of immune checkpoint resistant solid tumors. Description Reporting to the SVP of Research, the Senior Scientist I, Medicinal Chemistry will bring deep expertise in medicinal chemistry and will play a key role in advancing a pipeline of novel therapeutics enabled by integrin biology and targeted delivery strategies. This role will lead the design and optimization of drug candidates that leverage integrin-mediated delivery to selectively target tissues and cell types. Responsibilities Design and drive medicinal chemistry strategies for integrin-targeted therapeutics and delivery-enabled small molecules Utilize Structure-Activity Relationships to prioritize hypotheses, set design criteria, and guide external synthesis efforts Evaluate and interpret complex datasets and translate findings into clear, actionable design decisions Collaborate closely with biology, structural biology, DMPK, and translational teams to integrate insights into compound design and program strategy Prioritize and manage multiple tasks to ensure timelines and deliverables are met Maintain high-quality documentation and data management practices Present data and strategy clearly to internal teams and senior leadership Contribute to intellectual property strategy and filings Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance research culture Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, abilities, and prior experience required. PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related discipline 4+ years of relevant industry experience Strong foundation in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, with demonstrated ability to guide compound design, interpret SAR, and apply physicochemical and structural insights leading to optimized drug candidates Proven ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced research environment Demonstrated track record of progressing compounds towards development Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities Excellent written and verbal communication skills Preferred Qualifications Experience with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), linker-payload systems, or other targeted delivery modalities Demonstrated ability to integrate biology-driven insights into chemistry strategy, including payload selection and receptor-mediated uptake strategies Track record of meaningful contributions to candidate selection How you work Dare to

Succeed:

Brings intellectual curiosity and scientific courage to challenge conventional approaches and explore innovative chemistry and delivery strategies. Pursues bold yet data-driven solutions to advance integrin-enabled therapeutics. Make an

Impact:

Takes strong ownership of scientific outcomes, proactively driving decisions and progress with urgency and accountability. Translates complex data into clear actions that move programs efficiently toward development.

One Pliant:

Works collaboratively across disciplines, valuing diverse perspectives to strengthen scientific decisions. Aligns individual contributions with team and company goals to drive collective success. The annual base salary for this role is $160,000 - $180,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Pliant's compensation package also includes benefits, equity, and annual target bonus for fulltime positions. To understand how Pliant complies with and manages your personal information with respect to the California Consumer Privacy Act, please visit https://pliantrx.com/ccpa-applicant-and-staff-privacy-notice/ .

https:

//boards-api.greenhouse.io/v1/boards/plianttherapeuticsinc/jobs/7726416003?questions=true https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/plianttherapeuticsinc/jobs/7726416003 Apply for this Job

• - required fields First Name
• Last Name
• Email
• Phone
• Resume/CV
• Attach File or Paste Cover Letter Attach File or Paste How did you hear about this role?
• If you were referred by a current employee, please provide us with their name below. Do you now, or will you in the future, require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.) to work legally for our Company in the United States?
• Please select Yes No LinkedIn Profile Website

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete. Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026 Why are you being asked to complete this form? We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years. Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp . How do you know if you have a disability? A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your "major life activities." If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.