Senior Scientist, Analytical Development

Seawolf Therapeutics is a venture-backed company based in San Diego, CA. We are an innovative and collaborative team developing DNA-based medicines that will be first-in-class and best-in-class long-acting therapeutics for patients living with unmet medical needs. Come join our team and be an agent of change.

Seawolf Therapeutics is seeking a talented analytical Senior Scientist to be a key member of the Delivery Technology team to lead all aspects of analytical activities required to enable discovery research and platform development efforts. This is a hands-on, on-site role with approximately 70% lab work and 30% experimental planning and data analysis. The individual will be responsible for the developing, optimizing, and trouble-shooting the analytical methodologies required for the characterization of a nanoparticulate delivery system and the nucleic acid cargo.

The ideal candidate will have experience with the development and implementation of analytical methods used in the characterization and quantification of the various components utilized in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). This role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, can prioritize tasks based on strategic goals and timelines, and communicates effectively between cross-functional teams.

• Provide subject matter expertise across all analytical methodologies, including LCMS, RP-HPLC, SEC, SAX, CGE, spectroscopy, and fluorometry
• Ensure accurate quantification of critical components of the final LNP drug product (e.g., ligand, lipid, DNA, and RNA) and quality control of drug product and drug substances
• Plan, coordinate, delegate, and when needed directly perform sample analysis in support of company objectives

• Lead the development of the internal analytical capabilities that support all R&D activity, from early discovery screening through IND-enabling characterization
• Troubleshoot complex analytical challenges and identify bottlenecks in the analytical workflows to improve turnaround time and efficiency
• Ensure all methods are performed in a phase-appropriate manner, leading the pre-qualification, qualification, and validation efforts when necessary

• Recruit, train, and lead a team of analytical scientists
• Set priorities, own timelines, and coordinate the team's activities both internally and across departments in line with program objectives

• Maintain high standards for scientific integrity and accountability
• Ensure accurate and thorough documentation of experimental procedures, data, and method development activities
• Review and approve data generated by junior team members
• Contribute to technical reports, SOPs, and regulatory documentation

• Collaborate with a team of scientists to creatively solve problems and drive innovation
• Communicate across departments and support project teams
• Support technology transfer to manufacturing or external partners
• Adapt to evolving project priorities in a fast-paced, data-driven environment

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related discipline with 6+ years of relevant industry experience, or BS/MS with 12-15+ years of relevant industry experience
• Demonstrated proficiency in mass spectrometry, including LC-MS/MS method development and data interpretation for protein identification, quantitation, and impurity profiling, as well as for lipid identification, quantitation, and impurity profiling. A detailed understanding of tryptic digests and peptide mapping for protein analysis is strongly preferred. Hands-on experience with high-resolution platforms (Q-TOF or Orbitrap) is strongly preferred.
• Prior hands-on experience with the following:
• Prior…