Scientist, Analytical Development

Moderna Inc.; Norwood (MA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive healthcare

Well-being resources

Family planning benefits

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Moderna is seeking an analytical method development professional for our Norwood, MA site. This role focuses on developing, optimizing, and implementing advanced analytical methods to support clinical and commercial QC release testing, product characterization, and process development for mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.

You will design and validate electrophoretic, microfluidic, and automated methods, leveraging capillary electrophoresis, CE-SDS, cIEF/icIEF, and LabChip platforms.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with relevant experience in analytical chemistry or related fields.
• Experience in analytical method development for therapeutic modalities a plus.
• Strong data interpretation and documentation skills required.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, optimize, and execute analytical methods for drug substance, drug product, and process intermediates.
• Evaluate electrophoretic, microfluidic, and automated separation-based methods.
• Translate product knowledge and QbD concepts into method requirements and validation plans.
• Collaborate across Analytical Development, Process Development, and QC to support lifecycle management.

Skills

Analytical method development

Experimental design

Data interpretation

Lab automation

Education

PhD in Analytical Chemistry or related field

MS with 8+ years of experience

BS/BA with 10+ years of experience

Tools

Capillary electrophoresis

CE-SDS

cIEF/icIEF

Microchip electrophoresis

LabChip platforms

Job description

The Role

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.

Moderna is strengthening its presence in Norwood, Massachusetts, a cornerstone of our manufacturing and operational excellence. Our Norwood campus translates mRNA science into scalable impact, supporting the global delivery of our medicines. We welcome talent ready to drive innovation and make a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.

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 (APL), 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.

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.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world‑class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

Equal Opportunities

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. Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day,

Accommodations

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at [e-mail] .

Export Control Notice

This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.