Free Energy Team Lead

**About AQEMIA**

AQEMIA is a next-gen pharmatech company generating one of the world's fastest-growing drug discovery pipelines.

We have delivered several drug discovery successes within our internal pipeline and through collaborations with pharmaceutical companies. Our most advanced programs are currently in vivo optimization.

**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.

**Your role at AQEMIA**

As the Free Energy Team Lead 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 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**:

- 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.

**The competencies we are looking for**
- Approximately 10 to 15 years of experience, including significant experience in 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.

**Our recruitment process**

We design an effective and straightforward process for each role.
- Interview with Maximilien (30 minutes) co-founder and CEO.
- Interview with Hiring Manager (30-40 minutes) - Nicolas (Head of Drug Discovery).
- On-site case study assessment (2 hours total):

- Deep dive into Technical skills (1h30) Nicolas and Maximilien.
- Deep dive into Manager skills (30 minutes) - Marion (Head of people).
- Culture fit interview with Emmanuelle (COO & co-founder).

**Why Join Us?**

At AQEMIA, we work for a mission: joining us means having your own impact on changing the way drugs are discovered, and helping to shape the direction of our fast-growing company and team.

**Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline**: Focused on critical diseases several types of cancers, with in vivo proof of concept/patent stage programs. Collaborations with top Pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.

**Interdisciplinary Team**: Brilliant talent from tech and life sciences.

**Experienced Leadership**: Founders with 15+ years at ENS, Oxford, Cambridge, and BCG.

**DeepTech Recognition**: Part of French Tech 120 and France 2030.

**Prime Location**: Based in central Paris with the possibility of 2 remote days per week.

**International Environment**: The work language is English - relocation support and French lessons granted if needed.

**Strong Financial Backing**: $60M raised from leading European deeptech investors.

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