Senior Principal Scientist
About The Position
This is a laboratory-based scientific leadership position within the Vaccines Research and Development Early Bioprocess Analytical and Formulation Development group. The Senior Principal Scientist will define and advance analytical strategies for early-phase vaccine candidates and adjuvant products, including proteins, mRNAs, conjugates, or combination modalities. The individual will manage and lead a group of scientists, providing direction, prioritization, coaching, and performance support to ensure strong scientific execution and professional development. The individual will serve as a recognized scientific resource, guide the development, qualification, transfer, and lifecycle management of separation-based, spectroscopic, mass spectrometry, and other physicochemical analytical methods, and provide high-impact technical recommendations across programs. Working with considerable autonomy, the individual will lead complex cross-functional initiatives, influence sub-function priorities, mentor scientists, and build innovative analytical capabilities that enable timely, data-driven vaccine development.
Requirements
- PHD with at least 8+ years of relevant experience in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
- Advanced expertise in analytical method development and characterization of biologics, vaccines, or complex modalities, with demonstrated ability to set analytical strategy and solve complex technical problems.
- Demonstrated experience managing and leading scientific teams, including setting priorities, providing technical and professional guidance, coaching talent, and enabling strong scientific execution.
- Extensive hands-on and scientific leadership experience with separation-based techniques such as liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis.
- Demonstrated record of leading method development, qualification, transfer, troubleshooting, and technical documentation across multiple programs or development stages.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams, make sound decisions in ambiguous situations, and communicate complex scientific conclusions and recommendations to diverse audiences. Strong scientific writing, data interpretation, project prioritization, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to data integrity, laboratory safety, quality standards, and development of scientific talent.
- Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
- U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.
Nice To Haves
- Deep knowledge of critical quality attributes and analytical control strategies for protein, mRNAs, adjuvants, or combination vaccine products.
- Experience with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, orthogonal physicochemical characterization, multivariate data analysis, or advanced particle characterization.
- Experience authoring or reviewing regulatory submissions and responding to technical questions from partner, quality, or regulatory functions.
- Track record of scientific innovation demonstrated through new platform methods, patents, publications, external presentations, or enterprise-wide technical impact.
- Experience implementing laboratory automation, digital workflows, artificial intelligence, or data-management solutions in analytical development.
- Experience leading matrixed teams, mentoring scientists, and building sustainable analytical capabilities across functions or sites.
- Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.
Responsibilities
- Define and lead analytical control strategies for multiple vaccine programs, aligning method capabilities, product quality attributes, program risks, and development milestones.
- Manage and lead a group of scientists, providing direction, prioritization, coaching, and performance support to ensure strong scientific execution and professional development.
- Provide scientific leadership for the development, optimization, qualification, transfer, and lifecycle management of separation-based, spectroscopic, mass spectrometry, and other physicochemical analytical methods.
- Independently resolve complex and ambiguous analytical challenges by integrating mechanistic understanding, experimental design, literature, platform knowledge, and cross-disciplinary input.
- Represent Analytical Development on cross-functional project teams; communicate risks, options, and data-driven recommendations to scientific and program leadership.
- Lead innovation in analytical technologies, AI, automation, digital tools, and data analytics to improve scientific insight, throughput, robustness, and decision quality.
- Direct the authoring and technical review of analytical methods, protocols, development and qualification reports, specifications, certificates of analysis, stability documents, and relevant regulatory content.
- Develop analytical talent through formal and informal mentoring, technical coaching, experimental review, and opportunities for colleagues to lead and present scientific work.
- Forecast priorities and resource needs across programs, coordinate matrixed contributions, and ensure delivery of high-quality data and documentation in accordance with data integrity, safety, and applicable quality expectations.
Benefits
- 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution
- paid vacation, holiday and personal days
- paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
- health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage
- Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
