Principal Scientist, Process Development; Expression Systems

Position: Principal Scientist, Process Development (Expression Systems)
Job Title

Principal Scientist, Process Development (Expression Systems)

Job Function

Process Development

Location

[TBD]

Level

[TBD]

Overtime Eligible

[TBD]

Relocation Eligible

[TBD]

Immigration Sponsorship Eligible

[TBD]

Role Type

Full-Time

EEO Job Code

[TOTAL REWARDS]

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Role

Moderna is seeking an Individual to lead host strain, vector, and expression system strategy for

E. coli-based production of recombinant enzymes, plasmids, and related biological materials supporting Moderna's technology platforms and pipeline programs.

This role owns the front end of microbial production: designing, building, screening, and selecting host/vector/expression systems that enable high-performing, scalable, and robust upstream processes.

The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in microbial genetics, molecular biology, expression-system design, screening workflows, data-driven construct selection, and translation of small-scale screening outputs into process-development-ready leads.

Here's What You'll Do

• Own the strategy for
  
  E. coli host strain, vector, and expression-system for recombinant enzymes, plasmids, and related biological materials.
• Design and execute screening cascades that identify production candidates with strong titer, yield, quality, genetic stability, robustness, and process-development potential.
• Define stage-appropriate decision criteria for host/vector selection, expression tuning, induction strategy, plasmid stability, growth, product quality, and manufacturability.
• Develop and optimize small-scale and high-throughput screening workflows, including shake flask, deep-well plate, am , or other scale-down systems where appropriate.
• Evaluate host strains, promoters, ribosome binding sites, copy number, plasmid architecture, induction systems, codon/design strategies, secretion or localization strategies where relevant, and expression timing.
• Use DOE and data-driven approaches to improve screening throughput, predictiveness, reproducibility, and translation to bioreactor performance.
• Lead or support strain and vector engineering to improve expression performance, stability, productivity, robustness, and manufacturability.
• Apply molecular biology, microbial physiology, and synthetic biology principles to troubleshoot poor expression, instability, toxicity, metabolic burden, inclusion body formation, degradation, or inconsistent performance.
• Define fit-for-purpose characterization and handoff packages for candidate strains and constructs, including strain/vector history, design rationale, screening data, stability observations, known risks, and recommended development paths.
• Partner with process development, analytical development, downstream purification, informatics, automation, and data science teams to ensure screening outputs are actionable and linked to relevant quality and process attributes.
• Develop platform approaches and standardized documentation, data capture, decision criteria, and knowledge-management practices for recurring enzyme, plasmid, or microbial production needs.
• Support cross-functional troubleshooting, technical reports, development summaries, CMC-supporting documentation, and regulatory responses as needed.
• Serve as a technical leader and mentor in microbial genetics, molecular biology, expression-system design, screening strategy, and data interpretation.

Here's What You'll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, or a related discipline with 5+ years of relevant industry experience; or MS with 10+ years; or BS with 12+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Substantial industry experience with
  
  E. coli strain engineering, vector design, expression-system development, or microbial production screening.
• Hands-on expertise developing and executing microbial expression-screening workflows for recombinant proteins, enzymes, plasmids, or related biological products.
• Strong understanding of
  
  E. coli genetics, physiology, metabolism, plasmid biology, expression regulation, and genetic stability.
• Experience designing and interpreting experiments that connect host/vector/expression choices to titer, yield, quality, robustness, and manufacturability.
• Experience with small-scale or high-throughput screening systems and translation of screening data into process-development decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects, influence stakeholders across functions, and communicate clearly through technical writing, data analysis, and presentations.

Here's What You'll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Direct experience developing
  
  E. coli expression systems for recombinant enzymes and/or plasmid production.
• Experience with strain engineering, promoter/RBS libraries, plasmid copy-number optimization, induction-system tuning, codon/design strategies, secretion/localization approaches, or protein solubility optimization.
• Experience building screening cascades that balance speed, throughput,…