The Role
In this individual contributor role, you will develop, optimize, and implement advanced analytical methods that support clinical and commercial QC release testing, product characterization, process development, and broader analytical needs across mRNA-based vaccines, therapeutics, and emerging modalities.
You will combine deep hands-on expertise across electrophoretic, microfluidic, automated biomolecule-analysis, immuno-based, and emerging technologies with rigorous experimental design, data interpretation, and phase-appropriate analytical development principles to solve complex product-quality and control-strategy challenges.
Owning defined method-development workstreams from scientific concept through downstream implementation, you will help establish robust, fit-for-purpose and next-generation platform methods that can scale across programs and transition effectively into Moderna’s broader analytical and Quality Control network.
Here’s What You’ll Do
- 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, automated gel-based methods, and related technologies where scientifically appropriate.
- Develop and optimize automated biomolecule and immuno-based analytical methods, where appropriate, using capillary-based immunoassays, automated Western-type platforms, ligand-binding approaches, and related quantitative biomolecular-analysis technologies.
- Evaluate and implement next-generation analytical platforms, including microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip technologies, automated electrophoretic analysis systems, and other emerging technologies that improve robustness, throughput, automation readiness, scalability, or ease of deployment.
- 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 appropriate analytical technologies, sample-preparation strategies, detection approaches, controls, and data-analysis methods based on the scientific question and stage of development.
- 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.
- Systematically optimize critical method parameters and evaluate analytical performance characteristics including specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, range, detection capability, robustness, and system suitability to establish scientifically justified operating ranges and controls.
- Independently troubleshoot complex analytical challenges and unexpected observations by integrating method-development data, product knowledge, orthogonal analytical results, and scientific literature to develop and test scientifically sound hypotheses and solutions.
- Identify opportunities to establish analytical platform methods that can be standardized, harmonized, and reused across related products, programs, laboratories, or modalities, reducing unnecessary method proliferation and accelerating future development.
- Evaluate emerging analytical technologies and lead or support proof-of-concept studies to determine their suitability for release testing, product characterization, process-development support, or other intended uses across development and Quality Control networks.
- Support lifecycle management and modernization of established analytical procedures, including assessment of method performance, troubleshooting emerging issues, and identifying opportunities to improve robustness, automation, scalability, or replace existing approaches with more suitable platform methods where scientifically justified.
- Author and review analytical method procedures, development reports, impact assessments, method assessments, and supporting regulatory documentation.
- Collaborate with Analytical Sciences & Technology (AS&T), Quality Control, Analytical Sciences, Analytical Technical Operations, and other partners to support method pre-qualification, qualification or validation, technical transfer, downstream implementation, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management, designing methods from the outset with future routine and QC use in mind.
- Partner closely with Analytical Product Leads (APLs), Process Development, Product Characterization, Research, Manufacturing, and other CMC partners to connect analytical method development with product understanding, process-development needs, comparability assessments, investigations, and evolving analytical control strategies across early, clinical, and commercial programs.
- Partner closely with Applied Technology, Digital, and Quantitative Science to incorporate automation, miniaturization, and high-throughput concepts into method development where appropriate, including automated sample preparation, liquid handling, plate-based workflows, and reproducible data-processing approaches.
- Bring strong experimental design and data-interpretation capabilities to method-development workstreams, applying a solid understanding of phase-appropriate analytical development and analytical procedure lifecycle principles to deliver methods that are robust and fit for their intended use.
- Own defined analytical method-development workstreams and translate complex analytical needs into practical, scientifically rigorous procedures that can ultimately be deployed across the broader analytical and Quality Control network.
- Explore opportunities to work closely with emerging Generative AI tools and digitally enabled scientific workflows to accelerate analytical knowledge synthesis, experimental planning, data interrogation, troubleshooting, documentation, and method-development decision making, while maintaining appropriate scientific and quality oversight.
The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:
- “We prioritize the platform over any single solution.”
- “We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
- 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 M.S. with 8+ years; or 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, is required.
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
- Strong scientific foundation in analytical method development, including systematic method optimization, Design of Experiment, troubleshooting, robustness assessment, and interpretation of complex analytical data.
- Experience with one or more 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, is desirable.
- Experience developing analytical methods for mRNA, RNA, plasmid DNA, lipid nanoparticles, vaccines, biologics, gene therapy, or other advanced therapeutic modalities is preferred.
- 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 appropriate 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 within defined scientific objectives.
- Experience developing platform methods or implementing standardized analytical approaches across multiple products, programs, laboratories, or modalities is highly desirable.
- Experience evaluating or implementing emerging analytical technologies, including proof-of-concept development, technology assessment, method modernization, or replacement of legacy analytical workflows, is desirable.
- Experience with laboratory automation, liquid handling, high-throughput workflows, automated sample preparation, LIMS or sample-tracking systems, or reproducible data-processing workflows is a plus.
- Strong scientific curiosity, written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Analytical Development, Process Development, Analytical Sciences, APL, AST, QC, QA, Regulatory Affairs, Digital, Automation, and other multidisciplinary teams while maintaining scientific rigor, data integrity, laboratory safety, and high-quality documentation.
Our Working Model
As we build our company, we have always believed that an in-person culture is critical to our success.
This role is 100% onsite, reflecting the importance of being physically present to support the work, collaborate closely with colleagues, and contribute to our site-based operations.
Working onsite enables real-time collaboration, strong team connections, direct mentorship, and the hands-on partnership needed to deliver our mission. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.
Pay & Benefits
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Competitive healthcare, 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 investments to help you plan for the future
- Location-specific perks and extras
The salary range for this role is $109,200.00 - $174,600.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.
