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Full-Time

Sr. Scientist

Analytical Development

Confirmed live in the last 24 hours

Vaxcyte

Vaxcyte

201-500 employees

Develops vaccines for bacterial infections

Hardware
Biotechnology

Compensation Overview

$152k - $170kAnnually

+ Equity Component

Senior, Expert

San Carlos, CA, USA

Category
Bioinformatics
Biology Lab & Research
Biology & Biotech
Requirements
  • PhD in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry preferred, Organic / Biochemistry considered, with 5+ years relevant industry experience; MS with 8+ or BS with 10+ years of industry experience; (Pharma / Biotech / Analytical Testing) required.
  • Ideal candidate will have a strong theoretical understanding and extensive hands-on experience of SEC-MALS technique. Familiar with Wyatt instrument and ASTRA software is a plus.
  • Broad hands-on experience with modern analytical instrumentations commonly used in the analysis and characterization of biologics, carbohydrates, conjugates and small molecule drug candidates and successful track record of method development trouble shooting and validation, e.g., UV-Vis, various modes of HPLC, CE, SDS-PAGE, icIEF, LCMS, GCMS, enzyme kinetics, colorimetric and fluorescent plate-based assays, ELISA, Western Blot, etc.
  • Self-starter; able and willing to learn new techniques quickly and work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and collaborate effectively with other team members.
  • Direct experience operating Agilent HPLC using OpenLab/ Chemstation software and/or Waters UPLC and Empower software for data acquisition and analysis.
  • Experience working in a regulated (GLP / GMP) environment.
  • Solid understanding of relevant FDA, EU, and ICH regulatory guidelines and pharmacopeia as applicable to analytical method development and qualification/validation for small molecules, biologics and vaccines, and demonstrated ability of applying the regulatory guidance to formulate practical solutions and phase appropriate analytical strategy.
  • Attention to detail and excellent skills in record keeping / documentation.
  • Extensive technical writing experience in drafting method protocols, SOPs and reports.
  • Project management skills including the ability to manage one’s project resource requirements (material, manpower, time, etc.), and ability to elevate relevant issues to project lead and line-management.
  • Strong interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written formats.
  • Constantly identify gaps and areas for improvement and escalate to management as appropriate.
Responsibilities
  • Independently lead the development, qualification, and transfer of analytical methods for purity, content, and other quality attributes of biologic drug substances, carbohydrates, and vaccine targets.
  • Develop analytical methods and conduct characterization studies to support raw material, formulation development and the establishment of appropriate manufacturing control strategies.
  • Perform analytical method transfer to CROs/CMOs.
  • Perform appropriate CRO/CMO oversight by reviewing analytical method development data, reviewing and approving analytical method validation protocols and subsequent reports, and reviewing and approving analytical method SOPs.
  • Provide technical oversight to drug substance/drug product release and stability testing, as well as trouble shooting and analytical investigation at CRO/CMOs.
  • Author protocols, reports, and regulatory submissions as appropriate.

Vaxcyte develops vaccines aimed at preventing bacterial infections, focusing on diseases like invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, periodontitis, and Shigella. Their lead product, VAX-24, is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that targets 24 strains of the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria and has received Breakthrough Therapy designation from the FDA. Vaxcyte utilizes advanced chemistry and a proprietary cell-free protein synthesis platform, XpressCF™, to create vaccines that can effectively address the complex defenses of bacteria while stimulating an immune response. This method sets them apart from traditional cell-based vaccine production. The company's goal is to develop and commercialize broad-spectrum vaccines to protect vulnerable populations from serious bacterial infections.

Company Stage

IPO

Total Funding

$2.3B

Headquarters

Foster City, California

Founded

2013

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

24%

1 year growth

53%

2 year growth

114%
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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Significant investments from major financial entities like Vanguard and Mutual of America Capital Management indicate strong market confidence in Vaxcyte's potential.
  • The recent $816.5 million raised through stock and warrant sales provides substantial capital for advancing their vaccine pipeline.
  • The appointment of experienced board members like John Furey can provide strategic guidance and enhance corporate governance.

What critics are saying

  • The success of Vaxcyte heavily depends on the clinical and commercial success of its lead product, VAX-24, which is still subject to regulatory approval.
  • The competitive landscape in vaccine development is intense, with numerous established players potentially overshadowing Vaxcyte's market entry.

What makes Vaxcyte unique

  • Vaxcyte leverages its proprietary XpressCF™ cell-free protein synthesis platform, which allows for more efficient and versatile vaccine production compared to traditional cell-based methods.
  • Their focus on broad-spectrum vaccines, such as VAX-24 targeting 24 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, sets them apart in the vaccine development landscape.
  • The FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for VAX-24 underscores the innovative potential and clinical significance of their lead product.