Distinguished Scientist, Vaccines & Advanced Biotechnologies Process R&D

Scorpion Therapeutics; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Scorpion Therapeutics seeks a scholarly scientific architect to lead vaccine drug substance process development and clinical manufacturing, shaping a forward-looking science strategy. You will drive a long-term vision, identify trends, and steer CMC decisions across regulatory interactions and program goals.

Collaborating with Discovery, Development, Regulatory, and Commercial Manufacturing, you will mentor teams, expand external collaborations, and promote rigor and innovation throughout

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term scientific vision and technology roadmap for vaccine drug substance development and manufacturing.
• Anticipate emerging trends and integrate approaches to enhance process performance, speed, and scalability (modeling, automation, AI/ML, systems biology, advanced manufacturing).
• Partner cross-functionally to accelerate development and commercialization.
• Provide scientific leadership on CMC strategies, program decisions, regulatory interactions, and business initiatives.
• Expand external collaborations with academics, industry partners, consortia, and global health organizations; support visibility via publications and presentations.
• Guide teams through complex technical challenges across development lifecycle; consult on upstream, downstream, analytical, and manufacturing strategies.
• Mentor scientists and leaders; foster a culture of rigor, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Skills

Bioprocessing

Cross-functional teamwork

Innovation

Mentoring

Process scale-up

Scientific leadership

Technology evaluation

GLPs

Strategizing

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline

Tools

Modeling

Automation

AI/ML

Systems biology

Expression systems

Job description

The Opportunity

Serve as the scientific architect for vaccine drug substance process development and clinical manufacturing; establish and drive forward-looking scientific strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term scientific vision and technology roadmap for vaccine drug substance development and manufacturing.
• Anticipate emerging trends and integrate approaches to enhance process performance, speed, and scalability (including modeling, automation, AI/ML, systems biology, advanced manufacturing).
• Partner cross-functionally (Discovery, Development, Commercial Manufacturing, Regulatory, Marketing) to accelerate development and commercialization.
• Provide scientific leadership on CMC strategies, program decisions, regulatory interactions, and business initiatives.
• Expand external collaborations with academics, industry partners, consortia, and global health organizations; support visibility via publications and presentations.
• Guide teams through complex technical challenges across development lifecycle; consult on upstream, downstream, analytical, and manufacturing strategies.
• Mentor scientists and leaders; foster a culture of rigor, innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline.
• 15+ years industry experience in vaccine/biologics drug substance process development.
• Deep end-to-end lifecycle expertise (upstream/downstream) through commercialization.
• Experience leading CMC strategies/development programs with successful regulatory submissions/approvals.
• Strong understanding of modeling, automation, AI/ML, and systems biology; extensive knowledge of global regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with expression systems/cell substrates: E. coli, yeast, HEK293, Vero, CHO.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized authority with evidence of scientific impact and external recognition (publications, patents/awards, collaborations).
• Knowledge of adjuvant development and associated drug product strategies.

Required Skills

• Bioprocessing, bioproducts, cross-functional teamwork, innovation, mentoring, process scale-up, scientific analysis/leadership/strategizing, evaluating new technologies, GLPs.