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…