Staff Engineer, Downstream Purification & Tech Transfer

Vaxcyte; San Carlos (CA); Hybrid; USD 186,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaxcyte is seeking a highly motivated Staff Engineer to join the Protein Process Development and Manufacturing group, focusing on downstream purification, tech transfer, and manufacturing support for clinical and commercial programs.

The role evolves toward broader process development, scale-down modeling, and lifecycle improvement, partnering with CMOs and internal teams to ensure robust, compliant purification processes from development through commercialization.

Qualifications

• PhD/MSc/BS with pharma/biotech downstream purification and tech transfer experience.
• Experience leading GMP manufacturing campaigns and process validation.
• Strong knowledge of chromatography, filtration, UF/DF, and process characterization.

Responsibilities

• Lead downstream purification tech transfer and scale-up to GMP facilities for clinical and commercial programs.
• Provide technical support for GMP manufacturing campaigns and PPQ/CPV.
• Serve as SME in downstream purification, incl. chromatography, filtration, UF/DF, scale-up.
• Design and analyze small- and pilot-scale studies for characterization and validation.
• Support process monitoring, data analysis, trend analysis, and root-cause investigations.
• Partner with CMOs and cross-functional teams for transfer and readiness.

Skills

Downstream purification

Process development

Technology transfer

GMP manufacturing

Statistical analysis

Data modeling

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

cGMP compliance

Leadership

Education

PhD in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/Biochemistry

Master’s degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/Biochemistry

Bachelor’s degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/Biochemistry

Tools

Chromatography

Filtration

UF/DF

Scale-up equipment

Job description

Staff Engineer, Process Development and Manufacturing

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

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.

WHATwe do is every bit as important asHOWwe do it!Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.

*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.

*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.

*MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

Vaxcyte is seeking a highly motivated Staff Engineer to join the Protein Process Development and Manufacturing group supporting downstream purification, process development, technology transfer, process validation, GMP manufacturing support, and process lifecycle management.

This role is initially focused on technology transfer, manufacturing support, process validation, and commercialization activities for protein manufacturing processes. The successful candidate will partner closely with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs) and internal stakeholders to ensure successful transfer, scale-up, validation, and commercial execution of downstream purification processes.

The individual will serve as a recognized technical authority in downstream purification whose scientific expertise and engineering judgment influence program-level decisions across process development, technology transfer, validation, and commercial manufacturing. The successful candidate will provide leadership in solving complex technical challenges, developing innovative solutions, and guiding cross-functional teams through critical manufacturing and process development decisions.

As commercial manufacturing processes mature and transition into routine operation, this position is expected to evolve toward a broader Process Development role with increasing involvement in process optimization, next-generation process development, scale-down model development, process characterization, pilot-scale studies, and lifecycle process improvement. This provides a unique opportunity to work across the full product lifecycle, from development through commercial manufacturing and continuous process improvement, while helping shape the future downstream purification strategy for the Protein organization.

Essential Functions:

• Lead downstream purification technology transfer and scale-up activities from Process Development to GMP manufacturing facilities for clinical and commercial programs.
• Provide technical support for GMP manufacturing campaigns, process validation (PPQ), continued process verification (CPV), and lifecycle process management.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and technical leader in downstream purification operations, including chromatography, filtration, UF/DF, scale-up, and process characterization.
• Design, execute, and analyze small-scale and pilot-scale studies supporting process characterization, comparability assessments, validation strategies, troubleshooting investigations, and process lifecycle management.
• Support process monitoring, statistical data analysis, predictive modeling, trend analysis, troubleshooting, and root cause investigations to improve process robustness and performance.
• Partner with CMOs and cross-functional teams to support successful process transfer, manufacturing readiness, compliance, and operational execution.
• Drive continuous improvement and risk mitigation initiatives and apply scientific and engineering principles to solve complex process and manufacturing challenges and develop innovative technical solutions.
• Apply advanced statistical analysis and predictive modeling tools to evaluate process performance, identify emerging trends, predict manufacturing outcomes, and support data-driven decision making across technology transfer and commercial manufacturing activities.
• Author and review technical documentation, regulatory support documents, deviations / investigations, and technical assessments.
• Support inspection readiness activities and responses to regulatory observations.
• Mentor junior scientists and engineers and provide technical leadership across programs and project teams that shapes the team's capability development and establishes best practices across the programs.

Requirements:

• PhD in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/Biochemistry with 8+ years of relevant Pharma/Biotech industry experience, or Master’s degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/ Biochemistry with 13+ years of relevant Pharma/Biotech industry experience or Bachelor’s degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering or Microbiology/Chemistry/ Biochemistry with 16+ years of relevant Pharma/Biotech industry experience
• Extensive experience in downstream purification process development, process characterization, technology transfer, scale-up, and GMP manufacturing support.
• Strong expertise in chromatography, filtration, UF/DF, and downstream processes.
• Experience supporting GMP manufacturing, late-stage clinical or commercial manufacturing programs, process validation, and lifecycle process management (PPQ and CPV programs).
• Demonstrated experience applying statistical analysis, multivariate data analysis, and predictive modeling techniques to support data-driven decision-making tools for process characterization, technology transfer, process validation, continued process verification (CPV), and manufacturing process monitoring.
• Experience leading complex technical deviations / investigations, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
• Experience working with CMOs and external manufacturing partners.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory-scale and pilot-scale purification operations.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP regulations and manufacturing quality/compliance systems.
• Excellent communication, technical writing, cross-functional leadership, project management, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence matrix teams without direct authority.
• Prior experience with vaccine or conjugate manufacturing processes preferred.
• Experience supporting regulatory filings and health authority inspections preferred.
• Experience implementing or supporting implementation of Transitional Analysis for Column Integrity Testing preferred.

Reports to: Associate Director, MSAT (Protein Process Development and Manufacturing (Downstream)

Work Arrangement (may be adjusted based on business needs, job responsibilities, or changes to company policy): Onsite - 4 days per week onsite

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

Salary Range: $186,000 – $218,000 (SF Bay Area).

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.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Please be aware of fraud or scams from individuals, organizations and/or internet sites claiming to represent Vaxcyte in recruitment activities. Vaxcyte has an established recruitment process for all positions prior to issuing an offer for employment and we will never extend unsolicited employment offers or ask candidates to provide financial or sensitive personal information as part of the application process. All legitimate communication from Vaxcyte will come from an official @vaxcyte.com email address. Qualified and interested candidates should apply to current openings at vaxcyte.com/careers .

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