Scientist, Protein Design

Moderna Therapeutics; Cambridge (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 seeks a Scientist to lead in vitro selection and cell-surface screening of viral and bacterial antigens, shaping high-throughput mammalian display platforms to advance antigen optimization and candidate maturation.

You will guide experimental design, collaborate with computational design teams, and drive scalable screening campaigns that accelerate discovery across multiple programs, including de novo proteins and minibinders, contributing to vaccine antigen development.

Qualifications

• PhD required or equivalent in relevant field.
• Demonstrated ability to drive complex screening campaigns end-to-end.
• Deep expertise in mammalian display systems and high-throughput selection.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of in vitro selection and cell-surface screening campaigns.
• Design and run high-throughput mammalian display campaigns for complex glycoproteins.
• Build scalable screening systems that replace resource-intensive assays.
• Develop advanced in vitro selection capabilities and expanded display modalities.
• Collaborate with computational design teams to generate high-quality datasets.

Skills

Mammalian display systems

High-throughput screening

Experimental design

Data collaboration with design teams

Education

PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, or related field

Tools

NGS readouts

DNA assembly

Job description

The Role Moderna is seeking a Scientist to provide technical experience for in vitro selection and cell-surface screening of viral and bacterial antigens. This role will lead the design, execution, and continuous advancement of high-throughput mammalian cell–based screening platforms that interrogate broadly applicable design principles for glycoprotein antigens, enabling antigen optimization, improved expression and durability across multiple programs, and rapid maturation of computationally designed candidates. The Scientist will provide technical leadership through direct involvement in the design and execution of complex in vitro selection campaigns, setting experimental strategy and partnering closely with computational protein design teams to ensure designs are evaluated and refined at scale. In addition to antigen-focused efforts, this individual will be cross-trained to support screening of de novo designed proteins, including minibinders and VHHs, as a shared discovery resource. The Scientist will work closely with and report to the Senior Director, Computational Design and In Vitro Selection, and as well as other members of Research, to advance novel candidates to the clinic, drive exploratory trials to inform the generation of improved vaccine antigens and explore new concepts for mRNA medicines.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Lead execution of in vitro selection and cell-surface screening campaigns, providing technical leadership through direct involvement in experimental design and execution.
• Design and run high-throughput mammalian display campaigns for complex, multimeric glycoproteins.
• Build and deploy scalable screening systems that replace resource-intensive plate-based assays.
• Develop and operationalize advanced in vitro selection and directed-evolution capabilities, including novel selection pressures and expanded mammalian display modalities.
• Serve as a key experimental partner to computational protein design teams, generating high-quality datasets and actionable design feedback.
• Represent in vitro selection capabilities in cross-functional discovery and platform discussions.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Protein Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to drive complex screening campaigns end-to-end.
• Deep expertise in mammalian display systems, high-throughput selection strategies, and experimental assay design.
• Scientific independence, judgment, and ownership consistent with a Scientist role.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Expertise with antigen expression and engineering (e.g., strategies around folding, trafficking, cleavage, stability, and glycan impacts).
• Strong capabilities in library design and construction (site-saturation, combinatorial, error-prone, DNA assembly), plus NGS‑based readouts and quantitative enrichment analysis.
• A desire to make an impact as part of a high‑growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

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.

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.

Our Mission and Vision

At Moderna we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells. We have a clear mission to propel the field of mRNA science forward and deliver new medicines to patients and a unique vision for how to achieve this mission. Our Mission: To deliver on the promise of transformative messenger RNA (mRNA) science to bring new medicines to patients. Our Vision: To unlock the potential of mRNA by establishing an ecosystem of teams and partners that will work together to develop the broadest possible array of drugs, across diverse therapeutic areas and routes of administration, for serious diseases that are not treatable today.

Third Party Staffing Agencies

Moderna does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. For the protection of all parties involved in the recruiting process, resumes will only be accepted from recruiters/agencies if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position. Unsolicited resumes sent to Moderna from recruiters/agencies do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter/agency and Moderna and do not obligate Moderna to pay fees if we hire from those resumes.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company's personnel representative by calling 617-460-9346 or emailing [e-mail] if you need assistance completing any forms or otherwise participate in the application process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.