Senior Director, LNP Formulation & Process Development

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 213,000 - 281,000; Full time

Job summary

Mirai Bio, a Flagship-founded biotechnology company, seeks a Senior Director of Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Formulation & Process Development to lead LNP formulation, process development, and small-scale production for partner and internal programs. This senior leader will build capabilities, guide strategy, and oversee a team of scientists while interfacing with clients.

The role emphasizes deep LNP expertise, program leadership, and cross-functional collaboration with Translational Biology,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in related field with 12+ years in industry; MS with 14+ years; or BS with 16+ years.
• Extensive hands-on experience in LNP formulation and process development.
• Deep understanding of LNP composition, formation, purification, characterization, and parameter-product relationships.
• Proven ability to lead complex programs, interpret data, troubleshoot, and set development strategies.
• Experience leading and developing scientific teams and managing multiple programs and resources.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and client-facing communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead LNP formulation, process development, and small-scale production for multiple programs.
• Set technical strategy and best practices for LNP across payloads and applications.
• Provide senior technical leadership across programs: strategy, planning, data review, risk mitigation.
• Interface with clients and partners; support proposals, scopes, and business development.
• Oversee non-GMP production for in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical studies.
• Drive troubleshooting, optimization, tech transfer, and continuous improvement of LNP production.
• Establish workflows and documentation to improve quality and scalability.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the LNP team and manage resources and priorities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align LNP work with program goals.

Skills

LNP formulation

Process development

Team leadership

Client-facing communication

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field

M.S. with 14+ years of experience

B.S. with 16+ years of experience

Tools

Characterization techniques

LNP purification and optimization

Job description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Mirai Bio is a privately-held, Flagship-founded biotechnology company that is delivering genetic medicines from promise to performance. Mirai was built to solve one of the field’s central challenges: achieving precise, scalable delivery of diverse nucleic acid payloads to specific cells and tissues, particularly beyond the liver. By combining a large and growing proprietary

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Mirai Bio is a privately-held, Flagship-founded biotechnology company that is delivering genetic medicines from promise to performance. Mirai was built to solve one of the field’s central challenges: achieving precise, scalable delivery of diverse nucleic acid payloads to specific cells and tissues, particularly beyond the liver. By combining a large and growing proprietary in vivo biodistribution dataset, machine learning-guided lipid nanoparticle optimization, modular targeted particle design, and integrated translation and manufacturing capabilities, Mirai helps partners accelerate development, reduce technical risk, and pursue high-value programs making delivery a strategic advantage. We are seeking collaborative, relentless problem solvers that share our passion for defining the future of genetic medicines together.

THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Formulation & Process Development to lead the company's LNP formulation, process development, and small-scale production organization supporting partner and internal research and preclinical programs.

The Senior Director will provide scientific and operational leadership across multiple programs, establish LNP development and production strategies, and build scalable, reproducible capabilities to support a growing portfolio. This individual will lead and develop a team of scientists, serve as a senior technical interface with clients and partners, and collaborate closely with Analytical Development, Translational Biology, Project Management, and other functions.

The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in LNP formulation and processing with strong organizational leadership, program execution, and client-facing skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the LNP formulation, process development, and small-scale production function supporting partner and internal programs.
• Establish technical strategy and best practices for LNP formulation, process development, characterization, and production across multiple payloads and applications.
• Provide senior technical leadership across multiple programs, including development strategy, experimental planning, data review, risk mitigation, and technical recommendations.
• Serve as a senior technical interface with clients and partners and support proposals, project scopes, presentations, and business development activities.
• Oversee non-GMP production of LNP formulations for in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical studies.
• Drive technical troubleshooting, process optimization, technology transfer, and continuous improvement of LNP production for mRNA, siRNA, gene-editing components, and other nucleic acid payloads.
• Establish workflows, documentation, and operational practices that improve quality, reproducibility, efficiency, and scalability.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the LNP team while managing priorities, resources, capacity, and organizational growth.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align LNP development and production with broader program and company objectives.
  
  

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related field with 12+ years of relevant industry experience; M.S. with 14+ years; or B.S. with 16+ years.
• Extensive hands-on experience in LNP formulation and process development.
• Deep understanding of LNP composition, formation, purification, characterization, and the relationships between process parameters and product attributes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical programs, interpret data, troubleshoot problems, and establish development strategies.
• Proven experience leading and developing scientific teams and managing multiple concurrent programs and resources.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and client-facing communication skills.
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in a CMO, CDMO, CRO, or other client-service organization.
• Experience developing LNPs across multiple payloads and therapeutic applications.
• Experience building or scaling LNP formulation, process development, and production capabilities.
• Experience with technology transfer or transitioning development processes toward larger-scale or GMP manufacturing.
• Experience supporting technical proposals, scopes of work, and business development activities.
  
  

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is a hands-on scientific and organizational leader who can move between technical problem-solving, portfolio strategy, team leadership, operational planning, and client engagement. The Senior Director will be accountable for leading a high-performing LNP organization and ensuring the reliable delivery of high-quality formulations and development programs that enable partner and internal programs to advance.

ABOUT FLAGSHIP PIONEERING:

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds platform companies, each with the potential for multiple products that transform human health, sustainability and beyond. Since its launch in 2000, Flagship has originated more than 100 companies. Many of these companies have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture.

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies and has been twice named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Learn more about Flagship at www.flagshippioneering.com.

At Flagship, we accept impossible missions to enable bigger leaps. Our core values guide us through uncertainty and toward lasting impact.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We recognize that great candidates often bring unique strengths without fulfilling every qualification. If you have some of the experience listed above but not all, please apply anyway. We are dedicated to building diverse and inclusive teams and look forward to learning more about your background and interest in Flagship.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

The salary range for this role is $213,000 - $280,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Mirai Bio currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Mirai Bio's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

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