Vaccine Process Development Leader: Polysaccharide Fermentation

Pfizer; Pearl River (LA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with Pfizer Matching

Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution

Vacation, holidays, personal days

Comprehensive health benefits

Job summary

Pfizer is seeking a Senior Principal Scientist to lead the Polysaccharide Fermentation and Purification Development group in Vaccines, Early BioProcess Development. You will guide upstream/downstream process development for polysaccharide-based conjugate vaccines and scale-up for clinical manufacturing readiness.

The role requires a PhD with 8+ years in vaccine process development, strong leadership, and collaboration across cross-functional teams to drive strategy, risk management, and

Qualifications

• PhD with 8+ years in vaccine process development.
• Experience with capsular or exopolysaccharides and conjugate vaccines.
• Hands-on microbial fermentation and purification development.
• Knowledge of QbD, DP, and regulatory expectations.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and mentor staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of upstream and downstream process development scientists and engineers, drive the vaccines program, while setting scientific direction, establishing priorities, building technical capability, and ensuring high standards for rigor, quality, and accountability.
• Drive development of robust, scalable, and transferable manufacturing processes.
• Provide strategic leadership, serve as a strategic scientific owner for vaccine programs by defining process development strategy, aligning technical plans with program objectives, and ensuring decisions are informed by scientific evidence, manufacturability, timelines, and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across EBPD, Vaccines, BTxPS, and PGS organizations to support integrated process development and product advancement.
• Partner with cross-functional projects team, provide project updates, technical strategies, risks, propose mitigation plans, communicate trade-offs, and drive alignment among all stakeholders.
• Lead technology transfer strategy for developed processes to internal and external clinical manufacturing sites, including preparation and review of process descriptions, technical packages, risk assessments, process control rationale, and troubleshooting plans.
• Foster innovation through adoption of emerging bioprocess technologies, automation, digital tools, and data-driven approaches that enhance process efficiency, product quality, scalability, and robustness.
• Continuously evaluate process performance, equipment capabilities, and experimental workflows to identify gaps, mitigate risks, and propose practical improvements.
• Mentor and develop scientific talent while building organizational capability and succession strength.

Skills

Vaccine process development

Microbial fermentation

Polysaccharide purification

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

DOE / QbD

CMC documentation

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Job description

Pfizer is seeking a Senior Principal Scientist to lead the Polysaccharide Fermentation and Purification Development group in Vaccines, Early BioProcess Development. You will guide upstream/downstream process development for polysaccharide-based conjugate vaccines and scale-up for clinical manufacturing readiness.

The role requires a PhD with 8+ years in vaccine process development, strong leadership, and collaboration across cross-functional teams to drive strategy, risk management, and