Project Lead, Preclinical development of therapeutic siRNA

Location

Cambridge, MA. This role requires presence in the Cambridge office 3x/week. Novartis will not sponsor visas for this position.

Are you an experienced biologics development leader looking to broaden your impact by applying your scientific and strategic expertise within a small‑molecule focused development environment—while expanding your own experience in small‑molecule preclinical development? Technical Research & Development is seeking a strategic scientific leader to drive the preclinical development of therapeutic siRNA, including antibody oligonucleotide conjugates, within a collaborative, cross‑functional research environment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Profiling (CPP).

This role will lead candidate assessment and formulation strategy from discovery through early clinical development, applying deep expertise in conjugation chemistry, oligonucleotide delivery, and develop ability to advance high‑potential programs. The ideal candidate brings strong scientific judgment, hands‑on formulation and characterization experience, and the ability to influence project strategy, identify risks early, and partner effectively across research and development teams.

This role requires deep expertise in conjugation chemistry and the development of oligonucleotide‑based therapeutics. The ideal candidate will bring experience across conjugates, strong formulation expertise, and preclinical and clinical development know‑how, with biopharm skills; PK/PD experience is a plus. They will serve as a core member of research teams, independently assessing candidate develop ability and advancing programs into preclinical PK, PD, and toxicology studies through formulation, stability profiling, and risk assessment.

Success in this role also requires strong grounding in physical pharmacy and a clear understanding of oligonucleotide physicochemical properties to inform formulation strategies that improve concentration, reduce viscosity and aggregation, and enhance delivery, stability, and efficacy in preclinical in‑vivo studies. The ability to influence oligo construct design during lead optimization is highly desirable. This position also offers a meaningful opportunity for the successful candidate to broaden their development expertise by gaining exposure to and expanding into more traditional small‑molecule preclinical development.

• Represent TRD as a member of research stage core project teams, contributing to overall project strategy and success.
• Screen and develop phase‑appropriate formulations to enable robust in‑vivo and clinical assessment of new compounds; author protocols for internal and external labs.
• Assess new compounds for risks related to delivery, aggregation, stability, and develop ability, and proactively communicate key issues to influence compound selection.
• Provide strategic guidance to cross‑functional teams on the selection and optimization of conjugation and delivery technologies, ensuring alignment with project and organizational objectives.
• Basic drug substance characterization by techniques such as XRPD, DSC and TGA, DVS, PLM and UPLC.
• Assessment of the chemical and physical properties, such as solubility, particle size, viscosity, and chemical stability.
• Foster strong team spirit and knowledge exchange within and between teams and manage project‑related interactions across departments and with external partners.
• Pair operational excellence with strong strategic planning and prioritization skills, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within and across teams, while proactively managing project interactions between CPP and partner functions, including Biomedical Research and Pharmaceutical Development.
• Integrate cross‑functional insights, anticipate emerging trends, and identify opportunities and risks across the portfolio.
• Clear, timely communication to management—both written and verbal—to align project execution with organizational strategy and maximize the impact of CPP’s contributions.

• Advanced degree in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related field, with 5+ years of experience in…