Job Details

Company Overview

Light Horse Therapeutics is a San Diego‑based small molecule drug discovery company, employing tools from chemical and computational biology, in conjunction with precision genome editing methods to identify functional/ligandable sites on high value oncology protein targets for therapeutic intervention. Light Horse Therapeutics was founded by leading academics Brian Liau (Harvard), Ben Cravatt (Scripps) and Nathanaël Gray (Stanford) with initial financial backing from Versant Ventures and Mubadala Capital and from three strategic investors: Bristol‑Myers Squibb Co, Taiho Ventures, and AbbVie Ventures. In January 2025, the company announced a multi‑target collaboration with Novartis to identify and develop potentially first‑in‑class therapeutics. We are a mission‑driven, scientifically rigorous team committed to transforming cancer treatment by developing first‑in‑class therapies.

Position Summary

We are seeking a visionary and accomplished Scientific Leader to spearhead our Proteomics platform. This is a high‑impact leadership role within our growing organization, where you will lead an in‑house expert team of chemoproteomics scientists and work collaboratively across disciplines to propel our discovery pipeline.

You will oversee all mass spectrometry and chemoproteomics activities which will impact our drug discovery portfolio of oncology programs, our early discovery pipeline intersecting with our gene editing expertise and contribute to our external collaborations. Your expertise will directly drive the validation and enablement of novel protein targets and accelerate the design of small molecules with transformative potential. Your insights will integrate into the portfolio decision‑making process, and you will participate in all stages of drug discovery—from target site identification to candidate nomination.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Embedded in the Chemistry group, build strong partnerships with Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry and Structural Biology to enable portfolio‑facing data generation.
• Collaborate closely with Discovery Biology and Target Validation teams to ensure the coordination of all proteomics activities supporting the Light Horse early target discovery and advanced discovery pipeline.
• Guide scientists to enable effective design of experiments, execution of automation, optimize existing sample preparation, data acquisition methods, and data interpretation.
• Define and execute the long‑term proteomics strategy in alignment with company goals and research priorities. Anticipate emerging technologies, trends, and applications in proteomics, positioning the organization at the forefront of innovation.

Operational Oversight

• Hands‑on experience with state‑of‑the‑art proteomic techniques.
• Overseeing the all proteomics workflows from sample preparation, MS experiments to data analysis and data integration.
• Responsible for maintaining Mass Spectrometry infrastructure. Ability to diagnose mass spec instrument failures and communicate with external contract team to enable effective hardware repair.
• Experience in database search algorithms for proteomics (Proteome Discoverer, MaxQuant, MS Fragger, Spectronaut, DIA‑NN, and Skyline).

Innovation & Culture

• Contribute to the broader scientific strategy of Light Horse, fostering a culture of innovation, scientific excellence, and teamwork in a fast‑paced startup environment.
• Champion a culture of scientific curiosity and cross‑disciplinary learning.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field with 7 years of postgraduate experience in MS‑based proteomics experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Proven scientific leadership with a track record of successfully impacting a biopharmaceutical research portfolio from early project inception to delivery of a clinical asset.
• Ability to effectively manage scientific staff across various levels of experience.
• Proven record of a strong background in chemical biology and flavors of MS‑based quantitative proteomics.
• Strong publication/patent record.
• Strong business ethics and an active contributor to a supportive work culture.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in parallel.
• Collaborative and proactive mindset, aligned with Light Horse's core values of integrity, excellence, and teamwork.

Why Join Us?

• Work with world‑class founders and scientists on some of the most challenging and rewarding problems in drug discovery.
• Shape the trajectory of a rapidly growing biotech at the forefront of chemical biology and precision therapeutics.
• Be a core contributor in a mission‑driven team passionate about developing life‑saving medicines.

We offer a competitive total compensation package, as well as working in a supportive team environment.

The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in San Diego, CA is $178,000 to $234,000. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc.