Principal Scientist - Early BioProcess Development

About this role

What You Will Achieve ​ We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Scientist to join the Conjugation Process Development team within Vaccines Early BioProcess Development. The successful candidate will provide broad scientific, strategic, and technical leadership for conjugate vaccine process development programs, guide a team of scientists, and be accountable for defining development strategy, advancing innovative conjugation approaches, and enabling the design, optimization, scale-up, characterization, and clinical manufacturing readiness of glycoconjugate vaccine candidates.

This role is part of a cross-functional team focused on conjugation process development for carbohydrate- and other modality-based conjugate vaccines. The Principal Scientist will function as a group leader and strategic scientific owner responsible for shaping process development plans, integrating technical input across disciplines, mentoring scientific staff, managing risks, and influencing key program decisions from early-stage development through technology transfer and clinical manufacturing readiness.

How You Will Achieve It • Lead, mentor, and develop Senior Scientists, scientists, and associates responsible for conjugation process development, while setting scientific direction, establishing priorities, building technical capability, and ensuring high standards for rigor, quality, and accountability.

• Serve as a strategic scientific owner for assigned conjugate vaccine programs by defining process development strategy, aligning technical plans with program objectives, and ensuring decisions are informed by scientific evidence, manufacturability, timelines, and regulatory expectations.

• Design, develop, optimize, and scale up conjugation processes for glycoconjugate vaccine candidates, including evaluation of conjugation chemistries, activation strategies, reaction conditions, and purification approaches.

• Plan and execute scientifically rigorous experiments to support process understanding, robustness, scalability, and manufacturability of conjugate vaccine candidates.

• Analyze experimental data, interpret results, draw scientifically sound conclusions, and use findings to guide process development decisions and next-step recommendations.

• Present project updates, technical strategies, risks, and recommendations to internal teams, leadership forums, and cross-functional stakeholders within EBPD and Vaccines.

• Influence cross-functional program strategy by proactively identifying technical risks, proposing mitigation plans, communicating trade-offs, and driving alignment among EBPD, Analytical, Formulation, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and program leadership stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with colleagues across EBPD, Vaccines, BTPx, Analytical, Formulation, Quality, Regulatory, and PGS organizations to support integrated process development and product advancement.

• Lead technology transfer strategy for developed processes to internal and external clinical manufacturing sites, including preparation and review of process descriptions, technical packages, risk assessments, process control rationale, and troubleshooting plans.

• Identify and implement new technologies, analytical approaches, and process improvements that enhance conjugation efficiency, product quality, scalability, and robustness.

• Continuously evaluate process performance, equipment capabilities, and experimental workflows to identify gaps, mitigate risks, and propose practical improvements.

• Ensure high-quality documentation of experimental plans, results, conclusions, and process knowledge in electronic laboratory notebooks, technical reports, and development summaries.

• Maintain external scientific awareness and organizational thought leadership in conjugate vaccines, carbohydrate chemistry, purification, and bioprocess development by evaluating emerging technologies, engaging in scientific forums, and translating relevant advances into practical process development strategies.

Qualifications • Applicant must have a bachelor's degree in science with at least 12+ years of experience; OR a master's degree in Organic Chemistry/Carbohydrate Chemistry with at least 9+ years of experience; OR a PhD in Organic Chemistry/Carbohydrate Chemistry with 4+ years of experience.

• Hands-on experiences with carbohydrate protein conjugation, purification processes and analysis

• Understanding the design, planning, and execution of conjugation and purification activities including the operation and maintenance of relevant instruments, resolution of technical problems related to instruments, and execution of analytical/biophysical characterization methods.

• Experience with a variety of state-of-the-art analytical techniques including NMR, Mass Spectrometry etc. and other analytical techniques.

• Independently analyze and provide conclusions regarding experimental data generated.

• Proficiency with personal computers including word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, and relevant scientific software

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams, including process development, analytical, formulation, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing groups, to advance complex vaccine development programs.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills (both written and verbal) to effectively influence and collaborate in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary team environment.

• Ability to drive projects to completion and meet deadlines.

• Ability to translate scientific strategy into executable development plans, manage competing priorities, and guide teams through ambiguity while maintaining accountability for program deliverables.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.

  Work Location Assignment: On Premise 
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $106,000.00 to $176,600.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in P

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