V

Vaxcyte

Develops broad-spectrum vaccines for bacterial infections

Senior Associate Scientist - Formulation Development, Contract

Contract
$56 - $62/hr
Senior
Bachelor's, Master's
San Carlos, CA, USA
In PersonOnsite, with a minimum of four days per week.
Biology & BiotechBioprocess & Biomanufacturing

About the job

Requirements
  • A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field with a minimum of five years of relevant industry experience, or a Master of Science degree with a minimum of three years of relevant industry experience.
  • Strong hands-on experience in buffer preparation, formulation development, and laboratory techniques.
  • The ability to independently design and execute experiments and troubleshoot technical challenges.
  • Proficiency in maintaining detailed and accurate records, including required experience with electronic lab notebooks.
  • Strong organizational skills with attention to detail in pipetting, sample preparation, and data recording.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • The ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, collaborative environment across multiple projects.
  • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated initiative, scientific curiosity, and the ability to contribute strategically within a fast-paced team.
  • The ability to stand or sit for extended periods and work in biosafety cabinets in a laboratory-based setting.
Responsibilities
  • Support and execute the manufacture of complex drug products for formulation development, analytical development, animal immunogenicity studies, and process development.
  • Design, plan, and independently perform complex experiments, including troubleshooting and optimization of formulation processes.
  • Analyze and interpret experimental data, and communicate findings through working group presentations, technical reports, and presentations.
  • Analyze samples using biochemical, biophysical, and particle characterization techniques, interpret results, and communicate conclusions to the broader team.
  • Prepare buffers, solutions, and reagents for formulation and analytical activities while ensuring accuracy and consistency.
  • Maintain scientific rigor and detailed, accurate documentation of all experiments.
  • Support and enhance laboratory organization, including bench management, inventory control, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
  • Ensure accurate, thorough, and timely documentation of experimental work in electronic lab notebooks.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional groups within the Formulation Development and broader Process Development and Manufacturing functions.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in vaccine formulation development.
  • Experience interpreting complex data sets with data analysis tools such as GraphPad Prism and JMP, along with a solid understanding of statistical analysis.

About the company

V

Vaxcyte

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cbWebsite

Vaxcyte develops broad-spectrum vaccines to prevent bacterial infections such as pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella. Using a proprietary cell-free protein synthesis platform called XpressCF™, the company attaches bacterial components to carrier proteins to trigger an immune response without the limitations of traditional cell-based manufacturing. This technology allows Vaxcyte to include more bacterial strains in a single dose than its competitors, as seen in their lead candidate which targets 24 different strains. The company's goal is to protect children and adults from life-threatening infections by creating vaccines that overcome complex bacterial defense mechanisms.

Company Size

501-1,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Carlos, California

Founded

2013

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • All three OPUS adult Phase 3 trials fully enrolled by August 2026, de-risking execution.
  • The FDA expanded VAX-31 Breakthrough Therapy designation in May 2025 to include pneumonia.
  • Thermo Fisher’s up-to-$1 billion agreement and Lonza manufacturing build support commercial readiness.

What critics are saying

  • VAX-31 OPUS-1 data shifted to October 2026, compressing launch timelines.
  • Q2 2026 burn reached $284.3 million, while cash funding depends on dilution.
  • Pfizer Prevnar 20 and Merck Capvaxive already control adult pneumococcal vaccination, threatening VAX-31 adoption.

What makes Vaxcyte unique

  • Vaxcyte’s XpressCF platform produced VAX-31, a 31-valent PCV, on September 10, 2026.
  • OPUS trials were finalized with FDA alignment for a planned BLA submission.
  • Thermo Fisher and Lonza manufacturing deals lock commercial capacity across U.S. and Europe.

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Benefits

  • Company Equity
  • Stock Options
  • Remote Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

2%
BBNS
Oct 7th, 2026
Biotech stocks to consider - october 5th.

Biotech stocks to consider - october 5th. Moderna, Vaxcyte, and Amgen are the three Biotech stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeat's stock screener tool. Biotech stocks are shares of publicly traded companies involved in developing and commercializing biotechnology products, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and gene or cell therapies. For investors, these stocks can offer significant growth potential but often carry elevated risks due to clinical-trial outcomes, regulatory decisions, high research costs, and uncertain profitability. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Biotech stocks within the last several days. Moderna (MRNA). Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company, discovers, develops, and commercializes messenger RNA therapeutics and vaccines for the treatment of infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, autoimmune, and cardiovascular diseases in the United States, Europe, and internationally. Its respiratory vaccines include COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus, spikevax, and hMPV/PIV3 vaccines; latent vaccines comprise cytomegalovirus, epstein-barr virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and human immunodeficiency virus vaccines; public health vaccines consists of Zika, Nipah, Mpox vaccines; and infectious diseases vaccines, such as lyme and norovirus vaccines. Discover more Shop Handbags View Collections Discover Luxury Vaxcyte (PCVX). Vaxcyte, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology vaccine company, develops novel protein vaccines to prevent or treat bacterial infectious diseases. Its lead vaccine candidate is VAX-24, a 24-valent investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease. The company also develops VAX-31 to protect against emerging strains and to help address antibiotic resistance; VAX-A1, a novel conjugate vaccine candidate to prevent disease caused by Group A Streptococcus; VAX-PG, a novel protein vaccine candidate targeting keystone pathogen responsible for periodontitis; and VAX-GI to prevent Shigella, a bacterial illness. Amgen (AMGN). Amgen Inc. discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers human therapeutics worldwide. The company's principal products include Enbrel to treat plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis; Otezla for the treatment of adult patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behçet's disease; Prolia to treat postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; XGEVA for skeletal-related events prevention; Repatha, which reduces the risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization; Nplate for the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia; KYPROLIS to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; Aranesp to treat a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells and anemia; EVENITY for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal for men and women; Vectibix to treat patients with wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer; BLINCYTO for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; TEPEZZA to treat thyroid eye disease; and KRYSTEXXA for the treatment of chronic refractory gout.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 6th, 2026
Vaxcyte's VAX-31 vaccine matches Pfizer's $6.49B Prevnar on all serotypes in Phase 3 trial

Vaxcyte announced its 31-valent pneumococcal vaccine, VAX-31, met all primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial with 4,047 participants. The vaccine matched Pfizer's Prevnar 20 on all 20 shared serotypes and Merck's Capvaxive on 17 of 19 shared serotypes. Pfizer's Prevnar franchise generated $6.49 billion in 2025, representing roughly 10% of the company's $62.58 billion total revenue. The franchise grew just 1% last year, with Pfizer citing lower US market share. Merck's Capvaxive brought in $759 million in 2025, about 1% of its revenue. Pfizer trades at 9.87x forward earnings whilst Merck trades at 16.36x. Vaxcyte plans to file for approval in the first half of 2028. The company expects results from two additional trials in the first half of 2027.

Minyanville
Oct 5th, 2026
Vaxcyte launches dual $500M offerings of stock and convertible notes due 2032

Vaxcyte, a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company, has commenced underwritten public offerings of $500 million in common stock and pre-funded warrants, alongside $500 million in convertible senior notes due 2032. The company intends to grant underwriters a 30-day option to purchase an additional $75 million in each offering to cover over-allotments. The offerings are not contingent on each other and remain subject to market conditions. Jefferies, Leerink Partners, BofA Securities, and others are serving as joint book-running managers. Vaxcyte plans to use proceeds to fund clinical development of its VAX-31 adult and paediatric programmes, manufacturing scale-up, commercial investments for anticipated US launch, and research into early-stage pipeline vaccine candidates. The notes will accrue interest payable semi-annually and mature on 15 October 2032.

Yahoo Finance
Oct 5th, 2026
Vaxcyte soars 50% as pneumococcal vaccine beats Pfizer and Merck in late-stage trial

Vaxcyte's experimental pneumococcal vaccine VAX-31 met all main efficacy objectives in its first late-stage trial, sending shares soaring 50% and pushing the company's market value past $12 billion. The vaccine matched Pfizer's Prevnar 20 and Merck's Capvaxive in protecting against 28 bacterial strains and proved superior against three unique strains in adults aged 50 and older. VAX-31 was inferior on two strains using a stricter statistical threshold, though analysts called this a "near best-case scenario." Vaxcyte's shot targets the pneumococcal vaccine market worth $8 billion annually, dominated by Pfizer's franchise which earned over $6 billion last year. VAX-31 covers more than 30 strains, offering broader protection than existing vaccines. The company will report results from two additional late-stage trials next year before seeking regulatory approval.

STAT
Oct 5th, 2026
Vaxcyte claims success in bid to beat Pfizer and Merck in lucrative vaccine market.

Vaxcyte claims success in bid to beat Pfizer and Merck in lucrative vaccine market. Biotech company's pneumococcal vaccine hit primary endpoints in late-stage study. Oct. 5, 2026 General Assignment Reporter Vaxcyte said Monday that its experimental pneumococcal vaccine hit the primary endpoints in a Phase 3 clinical trial, setting up the California-based biotech to compete with Pfizer and Merck. Vaxcyte's shot, VAX-31, is designed to protect against 31 serotypes, or strains, of bacteria that can cause pneumococcal disease, including pneumonia, compared to 20 strains for Pfizer's Prevnar and 21 strains for Merck's Capvaxive. In the trial, just over 3,500 adults age 50 and older were randomized to receive VAX-31, Prevnar, or Capvaxive. Investigators then measured the strength of their antibody responses against different strains.