Principal Scientist

Manifest Solutions is currently seeking a Principal Scientist for an onsite position in Columbus, OH. We are seeking a visionary and technically accomplished Principal Scientist to lead cheminformatics and computational chemistry initiatives within our organization. This role blends deep scientific expertise with advanced software engineering and informatics capabilities to drive innovation in chemical information processing, modeling, and digital transformation. You will lead cross-functional teams of scientists and developers, architect scalable solutions, and contribute to the strategic direction of cheminformatics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of cheminformatics software, services, and APIs that enhance content pipelines and chemical data workflows.
• Apply advanced computational chemistry techniques to model stereochemistry, coordination chemistry, and molecular interactions.
• Architect and implement reusable frameworks for chemical data processing, search, and visualization.
• Collaborate with product owners, SMEs, and developers to groom backlogs and deliver high-impact solutions in Agile environments.
• Lead a group of highly skilled scientists, and engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Drive test automation, CI/CD, and observability across cheminformatics platforms.

Qualifications:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, or related field (Other 4-year degree with exceptional experience may be considered).
• 10+ years of experience in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, or scientific software engineering.
• Strong programming skills in Java, Python, JavaScript, and familiarity with cheminformatics libraries (e.g., RDKit, Open Babel).
• Experience with MEAN/MERN stacks, AWS, Docker, Git, Jenkins, and automated testing frameworks.
• Deep understanding of stereochemistry, coordination chemistry, and molecular modeling.
• Proven leadership in cross-functional teams and scientific innovation.
• Excellent communication, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI/ML applications in chemical data analysis.
• Familiarity with cloud-native architectures and data infrastructure.
• Development or research experience in connection table algorithms and chemical structure processing.
• Passion for continuous learning and mentoring others.