Engineer II, Conjugation Development and Manufacturing

Vaxcyte, Inc; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 171,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equity component

Job summary

Vaxcyte, Inc is looking for a highly motivated Engineer II to join the Conjugation Development team. This role involves developing and manufacturing conjugate vaccines in a cGMP environment. The ideal candidate should have extensive lab experience, strong bioprocess knowledge, and the ability to work in cross-functional teams.

Key responsibilities include operating laboratory equipment, overseeing production campaigns, and developing conjugation processes. A PhD, MS, or BS/BA with applicable experience is required. A competitive compensation package awaits the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in laboratory equipment operation and maintenance.
• Experience in cGMP environments with bioprocess operations.
• Strong knowledge of conjugation processes.

Responsibilities

• Operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment.
• Support design and execution of development studies.
• Provide technical oversight during cGMP production campaigns.
• Maintain accurate laboratory documentation.
• Collaborate effectively within a team environment.

Skills

Bioprocess operations

cGMP principles

Chemical Engineering

Biochemical Engineering

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in relevant field with 2-5 years of experience

MS with minimum of 7 years of experience

BS/BA with minimum of 10 years of experience

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Visio

JMP

Job description

Engineer II, Conjugation Development and Manufacturing

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.

Summary:

Vaxcyte is seeking a highly motivated and technically proficient Engineer II to join the Conjugation Process Development and Manufacturing group within the CMC organization. This individual will contribute to the development, scale up, and manufacturing of Vaxcyte’s multi valent polysaccharide based conjugate vaccines, which leverage a novel carrier protein produced through cell free synthesis. Conjugation—the covalent linkage of polysaccharide antigens to carrier proteins—is a critical component of Vaxcyte’s vaccine platform, and this role will support both laboratory development and cGMP manufacturing activities. The successful candidate will bring hands on laboratory experience, a solid understanding of bioprocess operations, and practical exposure to cGMP environments, ideally within late-stage development. This position requires close collaboration with cross functional CMC teams, active participation in production campaigns, and the ability to independently execute development experiments and document technical findings. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the advancement of Vaxcyte’s vaccine programs while developing deep expertise in conjugation process development and manufacturing.

Essential Functions:

• Operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment, including chemical reactors, TFF systems, HPLCs, and plate readers.
• Support the design and execution of development studies to optimize and characterize conjugation processes.
• Provide technical oversight during cGMP production campaigns, including preparation, on‑floor support, troubleshooting, deviation assessment, and change control execution.
• Review executed protocols and batch records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for conjugation related activities on project teams.
• Contribute to facility and equipment design considerations to support process scale up and manufacturing readiness.
• Participate in the development of conjugation processes for pipeline programs.
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation in laboratory notebooks or electronic systems.
• Engage in technical discussions and contribute to data interpretation and decision making.
• Collaborate effectively within a team environment to support departmental and program objectives.

Requirements:

• PhD with 2‑5 years, MS with minimum of 7 years, BS/BA with minimum of 10 years of experience in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or a related discipline.
• Practical experience with bioprocess operations at bench, pilot, or manufacturing scale.
• Strong working knowledge of cGMP principles and their application in bioprocess environments.
• Foundational understanding of engineering principles relevant to bioprocess development and scale up.
• Proficiency with standard software tools, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and JMP.
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross functional teams and manage multiple concurrent activities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Reports to: Staff Engineer, Conjugation Development and Manufacturing

Compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.

Salary Range: $146,000 – $171,000 (SF Bay Area). Salary ranges for non-California locations may vary.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.