VP Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

VP, Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Palo Alto, CA

About GondolaBio

GondolaBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapeutics for genetic diseases. GondolaBio is an independent sister company to BridgeBio, originally carved out in 2024 after securing $300M in private financing from external investors. GondolaBio aims to leverage cutting-edge biological research to discover, create, test, and deliver transformative medicines to treat patients who suffer from genetic diseases.

Who You Are

You are an accomplished leader in oligonucleotide chemistry and medicinal design, with a deep understanding of oligonucleotide synthesis, modification, conjugation, and structure–activity relationships. You have a proven record of advancing oligonucleotide candidates (antisense, siRNA, and other modalities) from design through optimization, scale-up, and IND-enabling studies.

You thrive in a hands-on, fast-paced environment and enjoy close collaboration across disciplines, particularly with biology, CMC, and delivery sciences. You bring scientific rigor, creative problem-solving, and a passion for applying chemistry to address unmet medical needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the chemical design strategy for oligonucleotide therapeutics for GondolaBio’s programs, collaborating closely with the Head of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics.
• Drive selection, design, and optimization of oligonucleotide chemistries (backbone, sugar, and base modifications) to achieve potency, stability, delivery, and safety goals.
• Advise on sequence selection and modification patterns to improve nuclease resistance, pharmacokinetics, and tissue specificity.
• Collaborate with CMC to ensure efficient discovery to development transitions related to synthetic route design, process chemistry, and scale-up.
• Evaluate and implement emerging oligo modalities, including conjugates (e.g., GalNAc, peptides, antibodies, lipids), self-delivering chemistries, and stereopure or gapmer designs.
• Partner with CMC, delivery, and biology teams to integrate chemistry strategy with pharmacology, biodistribution, and translational insights.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage CRO / CDMO partnerships for synthesis, analytical characterization, and manufacturing of oligonucleotides.
• Provide focused chemistry leadership on oligonucleotide programs, from early concept through development candidate nomination and IND submission.
• Maintain deep awareness of the state of the art in oligonucleotide chemistry and apply emerging innovations to GondolaBio programs.
• Embrace and role model GondolaBio’s values of scientific rigor, collaboration, and patient focus.

Preferred Education & Experience

Nice-to-Haves

No matter your role at GondolaBio, successful team members are

What We Offer

The base pay range for this position is $290,000 to $340,000 per year. The actual compensation offered will be determined based on a number of job-related factors, including experience, skills, qualifications, and location. A bonus plan and equity will also be offered.

Requirements :