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Salary: USD 146,000 - 171,000 / annual
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company developing high-fidelity vaccines to protect against bacterial diseases including invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella. The Development organization comprises four Process teams: Protein, Polysaccharide, Conjugate Drug Substance, and Drug Product, supported by Analytical and Formulation Development teams.
You will join the Upstream Polysaccharide Process Development team as a Scientist II, responsible for designing, executing, analyzing, and documenting experiments to develop, optimize, and characterize upstream processes for polysaccharide manufacturing using microorganisms. This role combines significant hands-on laboratory work with technical leadership of junior team members and cross-functional collaboration.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design and execute upstream polysaccharide fermentation studies supporting process development, optimization, characterization, scale-up, and vaccine production
- Develop and troubleshoot fermentation processes and operating parameters to improve product yield, quality, consistency, and robustness using statistical tools such as Design of Experiments (DoE)
- Perform microbiology, fermentation, and bioreactor operations, including equipment setup, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and automation script development for systems such as Ambr®250
- Coordinate and perform analytical testing, interpret experimental results, identify technical risks and process trends, and develop scientifically sound conclusions and recommendations
- Investigate unexpected or anomalous results through structured root-cause experimentation
- Support integration and interpretation of data across upstream, downstream, and analytical functions to connect fermentation conditions to downstream performance and final product quality
- Identify and propose new experimental approaches, at-line or online monitoring, and multivariate data-analysis tools
- Support process characterization, raw material evaluations, technology transfer, manufacturing support, and technical investigations
- Author and review protocols, technical reports, SOPs, batch records, and development summaries; author regulatory-supporting documentation under Senior Scientist review
- Maintain accurate experimental records in laboratory notebooks and electronic laboratory notebook systems
- Lead assigned project activities, provide technical guidance to junior team members, and ensure timely execution of project deliverables
- Present scientific findings and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external partners
The role requires minimum 4 days per week onsite in San Carlos, CA.
REQUIREMENTS:
- PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or related discipline with 2–5 years of industry experience; OR MS with 7+ years; OR BS/BA with 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
- Experience independently designing, executing, analyzing, and documenting microbial fermentation and upstream process development studies
- Strong knowledge of microbial fermentation, process development, scale-up/scale-down, process optimization, and related analytical technologies
- Hands-on experience with fermenters, microbial media, and process analytical technologies
- Experience with bioreactor operations, automation systems (e.g., Ambr®250), and data analysis tools such as JMP
- Working knowledge of statistical analysis and Design of Experiments (DoE)
- Working knowledge of GMP requirements and regulatory-supporting documentation
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects, troubleshoot process challenges, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams
- Strong scientific writing, data presentation, and communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
PREFERRED:
- Experience with process characterization, technology transfer, manufacturing support, or raw material qualification
- Experience with cell banking, colony selection, and microbial strain characterization
- Experience working with BSL-2 organisms; experience with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Escherichia coli
