About the team you’ll join

We are recruiting a key member to drive AQEMIA’s success by leading and growing our Free Energy Team.

Reporting directly to the Head of Drug Discovery Platform, you will join our largest department, comprising 30 talented individuals.

As Free Energy Team Lead, you will manage a team of four people dedicated to free energy calculations. This role requires a broad background enabling you to develop free energy methods, mentor and expand the existing team. Additionally, the ideal candidate may represent the team externally, engaging with major pharmaceutical companies, and other key stakeholders.

Your role at AQEMIA

You will play a pivotal role in advancing our technical expertise in free energy calculations while fostering a culture of scientific rigor and innovation. Your role encompasses three main missions:

Develop and represent AQEMIA’s technical expertise in free energy methods:

• Develop new free energy methods and improve existing ones, including our cutting-edge Molecular Density Functional Theory Method.

• Challenge and drive content and method development with the team.

• Represent the team externally, presenting and organizing conferences, industry conferences and to potential collaborators.

Implement a scientific and rigorous methodology:

• Apply a scientific approach to all aspects of problem-solving, prioritizing empirical evidence over opinions.

• Foster a culture of rigorous experimentation and data-driven decision-making within the team.

• Translate business problems into practical solutions, ensuring that the team maintains a focus on delivering tangible value.

• Understand the core business issues, identify the necessary skills to address them, and develop solutions accordingly.

• Effectively manage ambiguity and uncertainty by clearly communicating challenges to the team.

• Provide the team with the autonomy to evolve in a dynamic and changing environment.

Set-up the team for success:

• Recruit, build, and develop a high-performing team capable of solving complex problems: today 4 people with 2 to 3 additional team members.

• Manage collective and individual performance of the team and provide regular feedback.

• Mentor and coach team members to foster their growth.

• Create a positive work environment by encouraging engagement, motivation, and continuous learning.

• Foster a collaborative environment by connecting your team with other teams at Aqemia.

Expected targets to achieve in 2024

• Attain state-of-the-art knowledge and practices in solvation energy calculation, including Molecular Density Functional Theory methods.

• Successfully integrate and support our current team members.

• Recruit 2 to 3 new team members.

• Approximately 10 to 15 years of experience, including significant experience on Free Energy methods.

• In-depth knowledge of atomistic simulations and physical-chemistry.

• Deep expertise in free energy calculations and more broadly in statistical mechanics.

• Team management skills, capable of overseeing a team of 6 to 10 people, with prior experience managing PhDs and postdocs.

• Excellent methodology and rigorous approach to research.

• Pragmatic mindset with the ability to deliver regular value for short and long term endeavors.

• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to provide clear direction in an uncertain environment.

• Can-do attitude, looking for solutions instead of looking for problems.

• Effective communicator, able to engage and motivate team members and stakeholders, both internally and externally.

• Thrive on working collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment that keeps everyone on track. Put collective wins over individual wins.

1. Discovery call with Camille, Recruiter (20 minutes).

2. Interview with Maximilien, Co-Founder & CEO ( 30 minutes).

3. Interview with Nicolas, Hiring Manager (30-40 minutes).

4. On-site case study assessment (2 hours total):

• Deep dive into Technical skills, Nicolas & Maximilien, CEO & Co-Founder (1h30).

• Deep dive into Manager skills with Marion, Head of People (30 minutes).

7. Culture fit interview with Emmanuelle, COO & Co-Founder.

8. Final discussion with Maximilien, CEO & Co-Founder.