Scientist I, Drug Product Analytics (Laboratory Automation)

Summary:

Vaxcyte is looking for an energetic, technically versatile scientist to join our Drug Product Development team and take ownership of laboratory automation within Drug Product Analytics. The primary focus of this role is to design, develop, program, and deploy automated analytical methods on Hamilton liquid handling platforms, beginning with the automation of our multiplexed immunoassay (MSD) suite. The ideal candidate can independently program, script, and troubleshoot robotic systems and can translate manual bench assays into robust, reproducible automated workflows. Practical experience analyzing and characterizing biomolecules (proteins, polysaccharide conjugates, vaccines), particularly by immunoassay and multiplexed immunoassay formats, is preferred; experience with vaccines and adjuvant-containing formulations is a plus.

In addition, Vaxcyte is looking for an experienced and flexible individual who would be comfortable working on multiple projects at once, with fluid prioritization to enable aggressive timelines. This position is for a lab-based scientific role and requires excellent scientific judgement, independence, rigor, and thorough record-keeping.

Essential Functions:

• Support the design, development, programming, and deployment of automated analytical methods on Hamilton liquid handling platforms, serving as the hands-on technical lead responsible for building, testing, validating, and maintaining automated assay workflows within Drug Product Analytics.
• Program, script, and troubleshoot automated methods in Hamilton VENUS software, independently resolving robotic hardware, liquid-handling, labware, and system integration issues to keep automated assays running reliably.
• Execute routine and non-routine analysis of internal release, development, and stability samples using a variety of analytical techniques across Drug Product working groups, ensuring high-quality data generation and reporting.
• Automate, execute, optimize, and continuously improve Vaxcyte's internal multiplex immunoassay (MSD) assay suite, including transferring manual assays onto the automated platform, troubleshooting assay performance, improving robustness, and supporting assay lifecycle management.
• Support analytical comparability assessments including study design, execution, statistical data analysis, and reporting.
• Contribute to method development, qualification, and technology transfer activities, including collaboration with external analytical laboratories and manufacturing CMOs.
• Author and review technical documentation including assay protocols, SOPs, automated method files and scripts, reports, study plans, and technical summaries in support of development and analytical activities.
• Support the Vaxcyte PCV and VAXA1 programs through cross-functional collaboration with Drug Product Development, Formulation, Analytical Development, Quality, and external partners.
• Flexible and collaborative scientist comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced development environment; this role is predominantly lab-based and requires strong scientific judgment, independence in experimental execution, rigor in data analysis, and meticulous record keeping.

Requirements:

• PhD, MS or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline. PhD with 0-2 years; MS with 5+ years; BS with 8+ years of relevant industry experience. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered. Candidates at the Senior Research Associate level with strong laboratory automation experience are also encouraged to apply. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered.
• Hands-on experience developing and programming methods on automated liquid handling platforms, with Hamilton (VENUS software) strongly preferred (experience with Tecan, Beckman, or comparable systems will be considered), including building, optimizing, and validating automated assay workflows.
• Demonstrated programming and scripting ability (e.g., Hamilton VENUS, Python, VBA, or equivalent) to build automated workflows, integrate instrumentation, and support data handling — with the ability to independently troubleshoot robotic hardware and liquid-handling errors.
• Hands-on experience developing, optimizing, and executing ELISA or multiplex immunoassays (MSD preferred) with demonstrated ability to troubleshoot assay performance and interpret assay data.
• Experience supporting or leading method transfer, method bridging, or comparability assessments, including associated study design and statistical data analysis.
• Familiarity with plate-based assays (Lowry, BCA, etc.), multiplexed immunoassays (MSD).
• Experience analyzing and visualizing assay data using software tools such as Excel, Prism, or equivalent statistical/data analysis platforms.
• Experience authoring analytical technical documentation including method protocols, SOPs, reports, and study summaries, and maintaining well-documented electronic laboratory notebooks (eLN).
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities in a dynamic development environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate across teams and train or mentor junior analysts when needed.
• Detail-oriented with a high level of scientific rigor and excellence in data integrity and record keeping.