Principal Scientist, DMPK

Calico Labs is hiring a Principal Scientist, DMPK in South San Francisco, United States. It pays $197k-$235k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Calico Labs.

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include dmpk, pharmacokinetics and drug discovery.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 19 other open roles at Calico Labs.

AI in this role

Principal Scientist leading DMPK strategy and drug discovery programs at Calico Life Sciences.

dmpkpharmacokineticsdrug-discoverystrategic-leadership

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description:

Calico is seeking a Principal Scientist, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics to join our Drug Discovery team. This position is a unique opportunity to shape the DMPK strategy and contribute to the development of innovative therapeutics. This role will function as an individual contributor, collaborating closely with external partners such as Pharma and CROs.

Position Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

Develop and implement the DMPK strategy to support drug discovery and development programs
Provide expert DMPK guidance and input to project teams
Represent the DMPK function in cross-functional meetings and interactions with external stakeholders
Stay abreast of the latest advancements in DMPK science and regulatory guidelines
Collaborate closely with project, biology, and chemistry leads to support and advance programmatic goals

Collaboration and Outsourcing

Effectively collaborate with CROs and other external partners to execute DMPK studies
Manage CRO relationships, including study design, data analysis, and report writing
Oversee the quality and timely delivery of DMPK data from external partners

Individual Contribution

Design, coordinate and interpret DMPK studies, including in vitro and in vivo experiments
Analyze and interpret DMPK data to support drug candidate selection and development
Author and review DMPK reports, regulatory documents, and scientific publications

Position Requirements:

Ph.D. in pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, or a related field
8+ years of experience in DMPK within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
Experience as a DMPK functional representative on drug discovery teams
Strong understanding of DMPK principles and their application to drug discovery and development
Extensive experience in designing and conducting in vitro and in vivo DMPK studies
Proven ability to analyze and interpret DMPK data to inform drug development decisions
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills
Experience in managing CROs and external partnerships
Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week

Nice To Have:

Experience with a variety of therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, and peptides
Familiarity with regulatory guidelines and requirements for DMPK studies
Prior experience in writing regulatory documents is highly desirable
Experience with modeling and simulation software such as Phoenix WinNonlin, Gastroplus, SimCYP

The estimated base salary range for this role is $197,000 - $235,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.

How we rate this

Principal Scientist, DMPK at Calico Labs rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Principal Scientist, DMPK is an open job at Calico Labs.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $197k-$235k a year.
The role is based in South San Francisco, CA.
The job was posted on September 18, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Calico Labs. Apply on Calico Labs

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

DmpkPharmacokineticsDrug DiscoveryStrategic Leadership

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where dmpk was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where pharmacokinetics was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where drug discovery was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where strategic leadership was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Dmpk, Pharmacokinetics, Drug Discovery, and Strategic Leadership. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

Get your CV reviewed before you apply

Send your CV and the role you want next. Your review arrives by email within 3 days.

Get a free CV review Check your resume with the ATS resume checker