At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Chemical Research

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

San Diego, California, United States of America

Job Description:

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for a Senior Scientist, PET Radiochemist to be located in La Jolla, CA.

Purpose: We are seeking a passionate and innovative Senior Scientist, PET Radiochemist to join our dynamic Radiochemistry team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research that directly impacts our development pipeline and business outcomes within R&D.

Join us to be part of a collaborative team pushing the boundaries of medical imaging and radiochemistry. If you're passionate about innovation and making a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you!

You will be responsible for:

• Radiolabeling small and large lead molecules with PET and SPECT imaging isotopes.

• Proactively investigating and optimizing existing radiosynthetic processes or developing new, improved methods.

• Synthesizing precursors and standards in a chemistry lab on an ad hoc basis as needed.

• Generating independent hypotheses based on synthesis and design data; completing follow-up experiments, purifications, and analyses with minimal supervision.

• Reviewing and improving standard procedures to enhance current approaches.

• Drafting and submitting peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and patent applications.

• Independently planning, completing, and troubleshooting experiments; documenting data; interpreting results; and communicating findings optimally.

• Collaborating with global therapeutic areas, external partners, academic institutions, and CROs to support imaging studies and develop novel imaging biomarkers.

Qualifications / Requirements:

Education:

• A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related field with 6+ years of industry experience is required. An advanced degree, Master's with 4+ years of industry experience or a PhD with 2+ years post-doctoral or industry experience, is highly preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• Experience in radiochemistry and imaging probe development is required.

• Confirmed expertise in radiolabeling both small and large molecule PET tracers is preferred.

• Proficiency with radioisotopes such as F-18, Cu-64, Ga-68, and Zr-89 is required.

• Familiarity with automated PET synthesis modules is preferred.

• Knowledge of radiation safety principles and health physics is required.

• Industry experience is advantageous, but not required.

Other:

• This role is entirely lab-focused.

The expected base pay range for this position is $105,000 to $169,050.

The Company maintains highly competitive, performance-based compensation programs. Under current guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan. The annual performance bonus is a cash bonus intended to provide an incentive to achieve annual targeted results by rewarding for individual and the corporation’s performance over a calendar/performance year. Bonuses are awarded at the Company’s discretion on an individual basis.

• Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance.

• Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

• Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

  • Vacation –120 hours per calendar year

  • Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year

  • Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year

  • Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

  • Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child

  • Condolence Leave – 30 days for an immediate family member: 5 days for an extended family member

  • Caregiver Leave – 10 days

  • Volunteer Leave – 4 days

  • Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours

Additional information can be found through the link below.

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to:

• https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits

The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market.

This job posting is anticipated to close on 11/11/2025. The Company may, however, extend this time-period, in which case the posting will remain available on https://www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers, internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

#LI-Onsite

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Chemistry, Collaborating, Critical Thinking, Data Quality, Drug Discovery Development, Emerging Technologies, Execution Focus, Industry Analysis, Innovation, Interdisciplinary Work, Pharmaceutical Trends, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Quantitative Research, Research Ethics, Scientific Research, Technologically Savvy

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

The expected base pay range for this position is $105,000 to $169,050.

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Push the boundaries of science to transform health—and your career.

Join us and advance life-changing treatments for people who need them most. At Johnson & Johnson, our focus is on improving global health equity and developing MedTech and pharmaceutical innovations that impact the future of health. Using AI and robotics to transform surgery or helping data scientists and clinicians formulate new ways to diagnose and treat disease, this work may sound like sci-fi, but it’s all science, all real, and could be your career. Whatever your background, skills, or career goals, there’s a place for you to help solve some of the world’s most pressing health challenges with us.

Accelerate your career while changing the world.

Each of our broadly-based family of companies offers an inclusive and empowering culture and employee benefits (like paid time off to volunteer, transgender-inclusive and same-sex partner health insurance coverage, and more) designed to help you live your best life, however you define it. And our best-in-class learning and development approaches, mentorship, and access to innovators across the world will help you grow your skills and reach your career goals. Because when you're at your best, nothing stands between you and your next breakthrough.