Senior Principal Scientist

ROLE

SUMMARY:

This is a laboratory-based scientific leadership position within the Vaccines Research and Development Early Bioprocess Analytical and Formulation Development group. The Senior Principal Scientist will define and advance analytical strategies for early-phase vaccine candidates and adjuvant products, including proteins, mRNAs, conjugates, or combination modalities. The individual will manage and lead a group of scientists, providing direction, prioritization, coaching, and performance support to ensure strong scientific execution and professional development.

The individual will serve as a recognized scientific resource, guide the development, qualification, transfer, and lifecycle management of separation-based, spectroscopic, mass spectrometry, and other physicochemical analytical methods, and provide high-impact technical recommendations across programs. Working with considerable autonomy, the individual will lead complex cross-functional initiatives, influence sub-function priorities, mentor scientists, and build innovative analytical capabilities that enable timely, data-driven vaccine development.

• Define and lead analytical control strategies for multiple vaccine programs, aligning method capabilities, product quality attributes, program risks, and development milestones.

• Manage and lead a group of scientists, providing direction, prioritization, coaching, and performance support to ensure strong scientific execution and professional development.

• Provide scientific leadership for the development, optimization, qualification, transfer, and lifecycle management of separation-based, spectroscopic, mass spectrometry, and other physicochemical analytical methods.

• Independently resolve complex and ambiguous analytical challenges by integrating mechanistic understanding, experimental design, literature, platform knowledge, and cross-disciplinary input.

• Represent Analytical Development on cross-functional project teams; communicate risks, options, and data-driven recommendations to scientific and program leadership.

• Lead innovation in analytical technologies, AI, automation, digital tools, and data analytics to improve scientific insight, throughput, robustness, and decision quality.

• Direct the authoring and technical review of analytical methods, protocols, development and qualification reports, specifications, certificates of analysis, stability documents, and relevant regulatory content.

• Develop analytical talent through formal and informal mentoring, technical coaching, experimental review, and opportunities for colleagues to lead and present scientific work.

• Forecast priorities and resource needs across programs, coordinate matrixed contributions, and ensure delivery of high-quality data and documentation in accordance with data integrity, safety, and applicable quality expectations.

• PHD with at least 8+ years of relevant experience in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.

• Advanced expertise in analytical method development and characterization of biologics, vaccines, or complex modalities, with demonstrated ability to set analytical strategy and solve complex technical problems.

• Demonstrated experience managing and leading scientific teams, including setting priorities, providing technical and professional guidance, coaching talent, and enabling strong scientific execution.

• Extensive hands‑on and scientific leadership experience with separation‑based techniques such as liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.

• Demonstrated record of leading method development, qualification, transfer, troubleshooting, and technical documentation across multiple programs or development stages.

• Proven…