Principal Scientist, Process Development (Expression Systems)

ModernaTX • Norwood, MA

17d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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, biological relevance, and scale translation.
• Working knowledge of fermentation process development, downstream interfaces, and analytical methods used to assess expression, identity, purity, activity, plasmid quality, host-cell impurities, nucleic acid burden, or product-related impurities.
• Experience supporting CMC-facing documentation, technical reports, regulatory questions, and operation as either a senior technical individual contributor or manager of a small technical team.

Responsibilities

• 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, ambr, 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.

Benefits

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree