Staff Scientist, Research

VaxcyteSan Carlos, California, United StatesOnsite

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, periodontitis and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance. WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we 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 skilled Staff Scientist to join the Research team. The ideal candidate will primarily focus on formulation development while supporting conjugation chemistry and protein purification efforts. The candidate should have extensive experience in vaccine formulation, stability studies, and process development and a strong background in cross-functional collaboration, technology transfer, and analytical characterization of biologics.This role is ideal for an experienced scientist with a proven track record in vaccine research, drug product development, and formulation optimization.

The candidate will leverage their scientific expertise and leadership to advance vaccine candidates through various stages of development, from early formulation screening to clinical trials.

Formulation & Drug Product Development:

Lead the design, optimization, and scale-up of vaccine formulations.
Conduct stability studies (accelerated, long-term, and forced degradation).
Develop and implement container closure system evaluations for drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP) materials.
Drive troubleshooting and process improvements, identifying scientific gaps and proposing solutions to formulation challenges.
Manage preclinical and toxicology material development, including bedside mix approaches for early-phase clinical programs.

Conjugation & Protein Purification:

Support conjugation chemistry efforts for protein-polysaccharide vaccines, optimizing conjugation strategies for enhanced immunogenicity.
Assist in protein purification workflows, including chromatographic separations, ultrafiltration, and characterization.
Collaborate with analytical teams to ensure proper quality control and characterization of conjugates and formulated products.

Technology Transfer & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Lead and support tech transfer activities to CMOs, including documentation, troubleshooting, and process scale-up.
Serve as the scientific lead in interactions with manufacturing, clinical, regulatory, and quality teams.
Author key documents for regulatory filings, including IND-enabling studies, process development reports, and batch records.
Drive the implementation of electronic lab notebooks (Benchling) and other digital tools to streamline documentation and data accuracy.

Leadership & Team Development:

Mentor and develop junior scientists, fostering technical growth and professional development.
Provide strategic guidance in resource allocation and project timelines for formulation and process development programs.
Contribute to scientific publications, patents, and conference presentations to advance Vaxcyte’s vaccine platforms.

Requirements:

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, or a related field with 8+ years of industry experience; or M.S. with 13+ years; or B.S. with 16+ years.
Extensive expertise in vaccine formulation, stability studies, and drug product process development.
Hands-on experience with protein conjugation, purification, and analytical characterization (e.g., HPLC, SEC-MALS, DSC, DLS, CD, ELISA).
Proven ability to manage tech transfers, CMO interactions, and regulatory documentation.
Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to manage and mentor junior scientists.
Experience in a GMP/GLP environment and knowledge of regulatory requirements for biologics is highly desirable.

Reports to: Vice President, ResearchLocation: San Carlos, CACompensation:The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.Salary Range: $177,000 – $206,000Vaxcyte, Inc. 825 Industrial Road, Suite 300San Carlos, CA 94070We 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.Apply for this job

Life at Vaxcyte

Thrive Here & What We ValueCourageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind | Model excellence with a shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | Models our Core Values: is experienced as someone who exemplifies the culture we want to create; operates with transparency; is trusted.</s> | Rethink convention | Aim high | Lead with heart | Model excellence</s> | Vaxcyte is committed to protecting humankind from bacterial diseases through high-fidelity vaccines. | The company values creativity and intellectual diversity in all aspects of its work. | Vaxcyte aims to make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind. | The company leads with kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives. | Vaxcyte models excellence by demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision-making.</s> | 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.</s> | AIM HIGH: Embody 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 business objectives. | RETHINK CONVENTION: Bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of work done in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered. | MODEL EXCELLENCE: Demonstrate integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | AIM HIGH: Courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind. | LEAD WITH HEART: Kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives. | RETHINK CONVENTION: Creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of work done in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered. | MODEL EXCELLENCE: Shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | Collaborative role working closely with the Supply Chain team to deliver a system that will support Vaxcyte's growth through commercialization. | Promote a culture of continuous improvement by identifying areas for enhancement and implementing best practices in SAP and APS program management.</s> | Shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making</s> | Kindness-first approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives | Vaxcyte's mission is to protect humankind from bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. | The company values rethinking convention, aiming high, leading with heart, and modeling excellence in their work. | They prioritize collaboration across teams and strive for process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and compliance.</s> | 1. RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and reinnovate the way vaccines are delivered | 2. AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind | 3. LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindnessfirst, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives | 4. MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making</s> | Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases | Our work together is guided by four enduring core values: RETHINK CONVENTION, AIM HIGH, LEAD WITH HEART, and MODEL EXCELLENCE | 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.</s> | Bringing creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work done in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered</s> | Join our mission to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases | Collaborate with various stakeholders to understand integration requirements and translate them into technical solutions | Stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in integration, particularly within the Workato ecosystem | Participate in code reviews and ensure the quality of integration solutions | Proactively identify and address potential integration challenges | Manage and prioritize integration projects, ensuring timely delivery and within budget</s> | Shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision making | 11. RETHINK CONVENTION: Creative and intellectual diversity in every aspect of work | 12. AIM HIGH: Courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind | 13. LEAD WITH HEART: Kindnessfirst, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives | 14. MODEL EXCELLENCE: Shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | The company leads with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives. | The company models excellence by demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision-making.</s> | Collaborative and high-performance project team environment. | Aim high by embodying our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind. | Model excellence by demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision making. | Lead with heart by everyone leading at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.</s> | 4. MODEL EXCELLENCE: Shared Commitment to Demonstrating Integrity, Accountability, Equality and Clarity Across Communications and Decision Making</s> | Courageous goal to make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind | Bringing creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of work to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered</s> | Shared Commitment to Demonstrating Integrity, Accountability, Equality, and Clarity Across Communications and Decision Making</s> | Mission-driven: working towards protecting humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases | Collaborative: guided by four enduring core values that prioritize collaboration and inclusion | Innovative: bringing creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of work to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered | Ambitious: embodying a collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.</s> | Mission to protect humankind from bacterial diseases | Collaborative work environment guided by four core values: Rethink Convention, Aim High, Lead With Heart, Model Excellence | Commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and integrity within the medical and clinical affairs team.</s> | Vaxcyte values creativity and intellectual diversity to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered. | They aim high and embody their collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind. | They lead with heart, everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances their business objectives. | They model excellence by demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | Rethink convention: bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work done in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered | Caring: Vaxcyte is committed to protecting humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases | Courage: Vaxcyte embodies a collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind | Excellence: Vaxcyte strives for world-class finance organization that is customer service-oriented and highly accountable | Passion: Vaxcyte's cultural attributes include caring, courage, excellence, and passion</s> | Kindness-first and inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances 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.</s> | Kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives</s> | 1. RETHINK CONVENTION: Creative and Intellectual Diversity to Innovate and ReInnovate the Way Vaccines are Delivered | 2. AIM HIGH: Embodiment of Collectively Audacious Goal to Courageously Make the Most Complex Biologics Ever Attempted to Protect Humankind | 4. MODEL EXCELLENCE: Shared Commitment to Demonstrating Integrity, Accountability, Equality, and Clarity Across Communications and Decision Making</s> | Collaborative culture | Continuous improvement mindset | Kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances business objectives.</s> | 1. RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and reinnovate the way vaccines are delivered. | 2. AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind. | 3. LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindnessfirst, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives. | 4. MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | Commitment to protecting humankind from bacterial diseases | Emphasis on continuous improvement and risk mitigation strategies | Rethink Convention: Bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of work to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered. | Model Excellence: Shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality, and clarity across communications and decision making.</s> | Vaxcyte values creativity and intellectual diversity in every facet of the work they do | They model excellence by demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.</s>