Associate Director, Quality Control Lab Automation

Moderna Therapeutics; Norwood (MA); On-site; USD 142,500 - 256,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare coverage

Generous paid time off

Fitness and wellness resources

Discretionary annual bonus

Equity award opportunities

Job summary

Moderna Therapeutics is seeking an Associate Director for Quality Control Lab Automation. This role will oversee the automation strategy and digital integration across Moderna’s laboratory operations, ensuring compliance and alignment with business needs.

Qualified candidates will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in automation and excellent cross-functional project management skills. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in automation design with a BS degree, 8+ with an MS, or 5+ with a PhD.
• Strong business acumen to evaluate investment opportunities.
• Exceptional skills in project management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic direction of the QC laboratory automation roadmap.
• Develop and maintain an automation strategy aligned with QC business priorities.
• Lead automation projects ensuring compliance with GMP requirements.

Skills

Automation design and implementation

Quality Control

GMP compliance

Project and portfolio management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS, MS, or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, or Life Sciences

Tools

Laboratory automation technologies

Robotics platforms

Job description

Overview

The Associate Director, Quality Control Lab Automation Strategy & Digital Integration is responsible for leading the strategy, implementation, and lifecycle management of laboratory automation and digital integration across Moderna’s Quality Control laboratories. This role will define and execute the multi‑year roadmap for automation, robotics, integrated laboratory systems, and digital workflows, ensuring solutions are scalable, compliant, and aligned with business priorities and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic direction, governance, and execution of the QC laboratory automation roadmap across Moderna’s QC network.
• Develop and maintain a multi‑year automation strategy aligned with QC business priorities, digital transformation objectives, and future laboratory operating models.
• Lead governance and prioritization of the QC automation portfolio, ensuring initiatives are sequenced based on business value, compliance impact, technical readiness, resource capacity, and long‑term scalability.
• Lead a portfolio of automation and digital enablement initiatives including liquid‑handling robotics, automated sample management, laboratory instrumentation integration, autonomous technologies, and digital laboratory workflows.
• Partner with business owners of laboratory systems such as Chromeleon, LES, LabVantage LIMS, LabX, MODA, and related platforms to ensure seamless integration of automation technologies within QC operations.
• Establish automation standards, governance processes, and best practices to ensure scalable, compliant, and sustainable implementations across QC laboratories.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for automation projects, including prioritization, resource planning, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and value realization.
• Drive governance forums, executive communications, and strategic reviews including Steering Committee meetings, Quarterly Business Reviews, and senior leadership updates.
• Ensure automation solutions comply with GMP requirements, ALCOA+ principles, data integrity expectations, Computer System Validation requirements, and applicable global regulations.
• Own and oversee quality system records associated with automation initiatives, including change controls, deviations, CAPAs, investigations, and impact assessments.
• Serve as the QC automation subject matter expert during regulatory inspections, audits, and health authority interactions.
• Develop and monitor automation performance metrics, reliability measures, operational KPIs, and business value indicators to drive continuous improvement and investment decisions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Technical Development, Analytical Development, AS&T, and Quality organizations to support product lifecycle activities, investigations, and strategic business initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies, laboratory robotics, artificial intelligence applications, and digital capabilities to continuously advance Moderna’s laboratory automation strategy.
• Influence cross‑functional teams and senior leadership to drive alignment on automation priorities, technology investments, and long‑term laboratory transformation goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement across the QC organization.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Education: BS, MS, or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, Life Sciences, or a related technical field.
• Experience: BS degree with 10+ years, MS degree with 8+ years, or PhD with 5+ years of experience in automation design and implementation.
• Specific Certifications or Training: None.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience in Quality Control, laboratory automation, analytical operations, digital lab systems, or GMP laboratory transformation.
• Experience implementing robotics, integrated laboratory work‑cells, automated sample preparation, or digital method execution in a GMP environment.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and managing laboratory automation technologies including liquid‑handling systems, robotics platforms, automated storage systems, and integrated laboratory workflows.
• Experience developing and executing enterprise‑level automation strategies and roadmaps.
• Proven success leading complex cross‑functional programs involving Quality, Digital, Manufacturing, Technical Development, and Regulatory stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to evaluate investment opportunities and communicate value realization to senior leadership.
• Exceptional project and portfolio management skills with the ability to manage multiple strategic initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, including preparation of materials for senior leadership, Steering Committees, and executive governance forums.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across a highly matrixed organization.
• Proven track record of identifying opportunities for innovation and delivering practical automation solutions that improve quality, compliance, efficiency, and business performance.

Benefits

The salary range for this role is $142,500.00 – $256,500.00. Salary placement within the range is based on competencies, qualifications, experience, and performance. Eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance. Benefits include comprehensive healthcare coverage, voluntary benefit programs, fitness and wellness resources, family planning support, generous paid time off, vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, a discretionary year‑end shutdown, savings and investment opportunities, and location‑specific perks.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non‑discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Moderna is an E‑Verify Employer in the United States.