Scientist, Analytical Development

ModernaTX • Norwood, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Moderna is hiring an individual-contributor Scientist to develop, optimize, and implement analytical methods supporting clinical and commercial QC release testing, product characterization, process development, and other analytical needs across mRNA-based vaccines, therapeutics, and emerging modalities. The role combines hands-on work with electrophoretic, microfluidic, automated biomolecule-analysis, immuno-based, and emerging technologies with rigorous experimental design, data interpretation, and phase-appropriate analytical development. The scientist owns defined method-development workstreams from scientific concept through downstream implementation, helping establish robust, fit-for-purpose platform methods that can scale across programs and transition into Moderna’s broader analytical and Quality Control network.

The scientist translates product knowledge, critical quality attributes, process-development questions, and control-strategy needs into phase-appropriate analytical requirements and method intended uses. They select appropriate technologies, sample-preparation strategies, detection approaches, controls, and data-analysis methods; systematically optimize methods and assess performance; and troubleshoot complex analytical challenges. They also evaluate emerging technologies, support modernization and lifecycle management of established procedures, and author analytical procedures, reports, assessments, and regulatory documentation.

The role involves close collaboration with Analytical Sciences & Technology, Quality Control, Analytical Sciences, Analytical Technical Operations, Analytical Product Leads, Process Development, Product Characterization, Research, Manufacturing, Applied Technology, Digital, Quantitative Science, and other CMC partners. The position is 100% onsite at Moderna’s Norwood, Massachusetts campus. The salary range is $109,200–$174,600, with possible eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or an equity award subject to plan eligibility and individual performance.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field with 0–2 years of relevant experience; or an M.S. with 8+ years; or a B.S./B.A. with 10+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in analytical method development, including experience with at least one relevant platform such as molecular assays, electrophoretic or microfluidic methods, immuno-based assays, or related analytical technologies.
• Strong scientific foundation in analytical method development, including systematic method optimization, Design of Experiments, troubleshooting, robustness assessment, and interpretation of complex analytical data.
• Ability to independently plan and execute method-development experiments, analyze complex data, troubleshoot technical problems, and make data-driven recommendations within defined scientific objectives.
• Strong scientific curiosity and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams while maintaining scientific rigor, data integrity, laboratory safety, and high-quality documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with electrophoretic or microfluidic analytical technologies such as capillary electrophoresis, CE-SDS, cIEF/icIEF, microchip electrophoresis, automated gel electrophoresis, LabChip-type platforms, or related miniaturized separation technologies.
• Experience with automated protein or immuno-based analytical platforms such as capillary-based immunoassays, automated Western-type technologies, ligand-binding assays, or related quantitative biomolecular-analysis methods.
• Experience developing analytical methods for mRNA, RNA, plasmid DNA, lipid nanoparticles, vaccines, biologics, gene therapy, or other advanced therapeutic modalities.
• Strong understanding of phase-appropriate analytical development and analytical procedure lifecycle principles, including method development, robustness assessment, pre-qualification or qualification, validation, technical transfer, continued performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with science- and risk-based analytical development principles, including ICH Q14 and ICH Q2(R2), analytical target profiles or intended-use concepts, risk assessment, structured experimental design, and establishment of assay controls and system-suitability criteria.
• Experience developing platform methods or implementing standardized analytical approaches across multiple products, programs, laboratories, or modalities.
• Experience evaluating or implementing emerging analytical technologies, including proof-of-concept development, technology assessment, method modernization, or replacement of legacy analytical workflows.
• Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling, high-throughput workflows, automated sample preparation, LIMS or sample-tracking systems, or reproducible data-processing workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and execute analytical methods supporting drug substance, drug product, and process intermediates across early development, clinical, and commercial programs.
• Develop and evaluate fit-for-purpose electrophoretic, microfluidic, and automated separation-based methods, including capillary electrophoresis, CE-SDS, cIEF/icIEF, microchip electrophoresis, and automated gel-based methods.
• Develop and optimize automated biomolecule and immuno-based analytical methods, including capillary-based immunoassays, automated Western-type platforms, and ligand-binding approaches where appropriate.
• Evaluate and implement next-generation analytical platforms, including microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip technologies, automated electrophoretic systems, and other emerging technologies.
• Translate product knowledge, critical quality attributes, process-development questions, and control-strategy needs into phase-appropriate analytical requirements and clearly defined method intended uses.
• Select technologies, sample-preparation strategies, detection approaches, controls, and data-analysis methods based on the scientific question and development stage.
• Apply science- and risk-based analytical development principles, including analytical target profile or intended-use thinking, risk assessment, structured experimentation, Design of Experiments, and ICH Q14/Q2(R2) concepts where appropriate.
• Optimize critical method parameters and assess specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, range, detection capability, robustness, and system suitability to establish scientifically justified operating ranges and controls.
• Independently troubleshoot complex analytical challenges by integrating method-development data, product knowledge, orthogonal analytical results, and scientific literature to develop and test hypotheses and solutions.
• Identify opportunities to establish standardized, harmonized, reusable platform methods across products, programs, laboratories, or modalities.
• Evaluate emerging analytical technologies and lead or support proof-of-concept studies for release testing, product characterization, process-development support, and other intended uses.
• Support lifecycle management and modernization of established analytical procedures, including performance assessment, troubleshooting, and improvements to robustness, automation, and scalability, or scientifically justified replacement of legacy approaches.
• Author and review analytical method procedures, development reports, impact assessments, method assessments, and supporting regulatory documentation.
• Collaborate with Analytical Sciences & Technology, Quality Control, Analytical Sciences, Analytical Technical Operations, and other partners on method pre-qualification, qualification or validation, technical transfer, downstream implementation, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management.
• Partner with Analytical Product Leads, Process Development, Product Characterization, Research, Manufacturing, and other CMC partners to connect method development with product understanding, process needs, comparability assessments, investigations, and analytical control strategies.
• Partner with Applied Technology, Digital, and Quantitative Science to incorporate automation, miniaturization, and high-throughput concepts, including automated sample preparation, liquid handling, plate-based workflows, and reproducible data processing.
• Own defined analytical method-development workstreams and translate complex analytical needs into practical, scientifically rigorous procedures suitable for deployment across analytical and Quality Control networks.
• Explore the use of Generative AI tools and digitally enabled scientific workflows to accelerate knowledge synthesis, experimental planning, data interrogation, troubleshooting, documentation, and method-development decisions while maintaining scientific and quality oversight.

Benefits

• Competitive healthcare and voluntary benefit programs.
• 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 programs.
• Location-specific perks and extras.
• Possible annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

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