Senior Scientist, Analytical Development and Quality Control

Flagship Pioneering, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

Serif Biomedicines seeks a Senior Scientist to lead method development, optimization, and qualification for nucleic acid therapeutics and LNP delivery vehicles. The role emphasizes hands-on benchwork, rigorous scientific integrity, and cross-functional collaboration within a fast-paced startup environment.

The successful candidate will mentor junior colleagues, shape analytical capabilities, and provide technical input for regulatory filings while delivering robust, well-documented data packages

Qualifications

• BS with 14+ years, MS with 12+, or PhD with 5+ years in relevant industry.
• Hands-on experience with nucleic acid cargo and LNP products.
• Expertise in HPLC separations or LC‑MS and troubleshooting analytical methods.
• Experience mentoring junior staff is desirable.
• Strong communication and organizational skills with familiarity in Benchling and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead method development and implementation for nucleic acid cargo and LNP product release, stability, and characterization.
• Lead experiments to optimize specificity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and linearity of analytical methods.
• Troubleshoot assay development and instrument issues, serving as a technical resource.
• Plan studies, design development projects, and schedule routine testing across programs.
• Support analytical analysis for process development to ensure robust characterization.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team and mentor junior colleagues.

Skills

Analytical development

Quality control

Mentoring

Scientific communication

Method development

Benchwork

Education

Degree in Chemistry or related field

Advanced degree (MS/PhD) preferred

Tools

Benchling

MS Office

JMP

GraphPad

Empower

Chromeleon

Job description

Company Summary

Serif Biomedicines is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to gene therapy that can address currently untreatable diseases.

Company Summary

Serif Biomedicines is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to gene therapy that can address currently untreatable diseases. Serif was founded by Flagship Pioneering, an innovation enterprise that conceives, creates, resources, and grows first-in-category life sciences companies. Flagship Pioneering has created over 100 groundbreaking companies over the past twenty years, all of which are pioneering novel and proprietary biological, industrial, and engineering approaches to solve major needs in human health and sustainability. These companies include Moderna (MRNA), Syros Pharmaceuticals (SYRS), Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ:MCRB), Generate Biomedicines, Tessera Tx, Evelo Biosciences (EVLO), and Indigo Agriculture.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced candidate for a role of Senior Scientist on the Analytical Development and Quality Control team. This candidate will lead method development, optimization, and qualification efforts to support characterization of novel nucleic acid therapeutics and LNP delivery vehicles, and will mentor junior team members as part of this role. We are looking for an individual who enjoys hands‑on laboratory benchwork and brings scientific rigor and intellectual curiosity to their role. This individual will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and fast‑paced entrepreneurial environment as part of a highly collaborative and rapidly growing team.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the team's advancement of platform development and play a vital role in shaping our analytical capabilities. Step into benchwork to execute platform goals with tenacity and agility, while providing technical direction and mentorship to junior team members.

• Lead method development and implementation to support nucleic acid cargo and LNP product release, stability and characterization
• Lead experimental studies to optimize specificity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and/or linearity of analytical methods
• Troubleshoot assay development and instrument operation issues, serving as a technical resource for the broader team
• Experimental planning, study design and scheduling of development projects as well as routine testing across programs
• Support day-to-day execution of analytical analysis for process development activities to ensure robust process and product characterization
• Work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment, providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior colleagues
• Analyze, troubleshoot, and communicate experimental findings clearly and succinctly in oral, written, and visual formats to internal teams and cross‑functional stakeholders
• Provide technical input to support regulatory filings
• Author and manage protocols, laboratory data, and technical reports

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry, Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related field. B.S. degree with 14+ years, M.S. degree with 12+, or Ph.D. with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Prior hands‑on experience working with mRNA/DNA cargo and LNP products
• Demonstrated technical expertise in HPLC separations or LC‑MS, with a track record of independently developing and troubleshooting analytical methods
• Experience with plate‑based assays is a plus
• Proven ability to independently design, execute, and troubleshoot complex experiments
• Experience mentoring, training, or providing technical guidance to junior staff is desired
• Strong communication and organization skills; good working knowledge of Benchling, MS Office, JMP, GraphPad, Empower, Chromeleon
• Demonstrates attention to detail, meticulous record keeping and personal organization
• Ability to analyze, compile, and present experimental data in oral presentations as well as in technical reports
• Strong technical writing skills to support method SOPs, protocols, and reports
• Ability to lead cross‑functional technical initiatives and represent the ADQC team in scientific discussions

More About Flagship Pioneering

We are creative optimists and we would love for you to consider joining our team! See all our open opportunities across Flagship Pioneering’s Ecosystem! Flagship Pioneering conceives, creates, resources, and develops first-in-category life sciences companies to transform human health and sustainability. Since its launch in 2000, the firm has applied a unique hypothesis‑driven innovation process to originate and foster more than 100 scientific ventures, resulting in over $34 billion in aggregate value. To date, Flagship is backed by more than $4.4 billion of aggregate capital commitments, of which over $1.9 billion has been deployed toward the founding and growth of its pioneering companies alongside more than $10 billion of follow‑on investments from other institutions. The current Flagship ecosystem comprises 41 transformative companies, including: Axcella Health (NASDAQ: AXLA), Denali Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DNLI), Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ: EVLO), Foghorn Therapeutics, Indigo Ag, Kaleido Biosciences (NASDAQ: KLDO), Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA), Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RUBY), Sana Biotechnology, Seres Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MCRB), and Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SYRS). We believe pioneering is best done by teams, and that it is a process that can be taught, learned, and replicated. Learn more about our Company Creation Model. Can Breakthrough Innovations Be Made Systematically? A Conversation With Noubar Afeyan, Flagship Pioneering’s CEO. Flagship Pioneering and our ecosystem companies are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

The salary range for this role is $126,000 - $181,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Serif Biomedicines currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Serif Biomedicines's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

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