Scientist, Analytical Development

Moderna • Norwood, MA

2d • $109,200 - $174,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Moderna is seeking an individual contributor to develop, optimize, and implement analytical methods supporting clinical and commercial QC release testing, product characterization, process development, and other analytical needs across mRNA 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 principles.

The Scientist will own defined method-development workstreams from scientific concept through downstream implementation, establishing robust, fit-for-purpose platform methods that can scale across programs and transition into Moderna’s wider analytical and Quality Control network. The work includes method development and optimization, assessment of analytical performance, evaluation of emerging technologies, procedure and report authoring, and collaboration on pre-qualification, qualification or validation, technical transfer, implementation, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management.

The position is 100% onsite at Moderna’s Norwood, Massachusetts campus. Moderna describes its work environment as smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free. Employment is contingent on eligibility to access export-controlled information; only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons are eligible.

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 analytical method-development experience, including experience with at least one relevant platform such as molecular assays, electrophoretic or microfluidic methods, immuno-based assays, or related analytical technologies.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with electrophoretic or microfluidic 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 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 procedure lifecycle principles, including development, robustness assessment, pre-qualification or qualification, validation, technical transfer, continued performance monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with science- and risk-based analytical development, including ICH Q14 and ICH Q2(R2), analytical target profiles or intended-use concepts, risk assessment, structured experimental design, and assay controls and system-suitability criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute method-development experiments, analyze complex data, troubleshoot technical problems, and make data-driven recommendations.
• 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 workflows.
• Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling, high-throughput workflows, automated sample preparation, LIMS or sample-tracking systems, or reproducible data-processing workflows.
• Scientific curiosity, strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams while maintaining scientific rigor, data integrity, laboratory safety, and high-quality documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and execute analytical methods for drug substance, drug product, and process intermediates across early development, clinical, and commercial programs.
• Develop and assess fit-for-purpose electrophoretic, microfluidic, and automated separation methods, including capillary electrophoresis, CE-SDS, cIEF/icIEF, microchip electrophoresis, and automated gel-based methods.
• Develop and optimize automated biomolecule and immuno-based methods, including capillary-based immunoassays, automated Western-type platforms, and ligand-binding approaches.
• Evaluate and implement next-generation analytical platforms and lead or support proof-of-concept studies to assess their suitability for intended uses.
• Translate product knowledge, critical quality attributes, process-development questions, and control-strategy needs into phase-appropriate analytical requirements and clearly defined method intended use.
• Select analytical technologies, sample-preparation strategies, detection approaches, controls, and data-analysis methods appropriate to the scientific question and development stage.
• Apply science- and risk-based analytical development principles, including intended-use or analytical target profile thinking, risk assessment, structured experimentation, Design of Experiments, and ICH Q14/Q2(R2) concepts where appropriate.
• Optimize critical method parameters and assess analytical performance characteristics, including specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, range, detection capability, robustness, and system suitability.
• Troubleshoot complex analytical challenges by integrating method-development data, product knowledge, orthogonal analytical results, and scientific literature to develop and test hypotheses.
• Identify and establish platform methods that can be standardized, harmonized, and reused across products, programs, laboratories, or modalities.
• Support lifecycle management and modernization of established analytical procedures, including assessing performance, resolving issues, and improving robustness, automation, or scalability where scientifically justified.
• Author and review analytical method procedures, development reports, impact assessments, method assessments, and supporting regulatory documentation.
• Collaborate with AS&T, Quality Control, Analytical Sciences, Analytical Technical Operations, and other partners on method pre-qualification, qualification or validation, technical transfer, 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, investigations, and analytical control strategies.
• Work 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 for the broader analytical and QC network.
• Explore the use of Generative AI tools and digitally enabled scientific workflows for knowledge synthesis, experimental planning, data interrogation, troubleshooting, documentation, and method-development decisions, with appropriate 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.
• 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.
• Potential eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or an equity award, subject to plan eligibility and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level