Associate Scientist II

Summary:

Vaxcyte is seeking an accomplished Associate Scientist II, Immunoassay Development to join the CMC Immunoassay group. This role will provide scientific and strategic leadership for the development, qualification, characterization, governance, and lifecycle management of critical reagents and reference materials that support immunoassays across Vaxcyte's vaccine pipeline.

The Associate Scientist will work closely with scientists, senior scientists, and laboratory leaders to execute immunoassays, support fit-for-purpose method development, assist with troubleshooting studies, and contribute to high-quality laboratory documentation and data integrity.

Essential Functions:

• Perform hands-on assay execution to support immunoassay development, optimization, platform evaluation, routine testing, method transfer support, and under direct supervision, validation readiness, and lifecycle activities.
• Engage daily in laboratory operations, including reagent preparation, sample handling, plate or bead preparation, instrument operation, assay setup, data capture, documentation, and laboratory organization.
• Execute immunoassays supporting potency, antigenicity, identity, impurity, characterization, comparability, release, stability, and development-stage analytical needs.
• Support experiments using ELISA, MSD, bead-based assays, multiplex assays, electrochemiluminescence-based assays, or other ligand-binding assay formats.
• Prepare reagents, buffers, samples, plates, beads, assay controls, reference materials, and other materials required for immunoassay testing.
• Generate and summarize assay data, including standard curves, sample response, dilution response, recovery, precision, assay controls, and system suitability results.
• Under direction of a Scientist or Sr. Scientist, support troubleshooting studies by executing experiments, documenting observations, organizing data, and communicating findings to scientists and project leads.
• Support critical reagent and reference material activities, including aliquoting, labeling, inventory tracking, reagent screening, lot comparison, stability study support, and qualification-support testing.
• Maintain accurate and timely laboratory documentation, including ELN entries, assay worksheets, reagent records, sample records, and data summaries.
• Support laboratory readiness, including consumable tracking, instrument use coordination, sample tracking, safety compliance, and good laboratory practices.

Requirements: 

• BS. in Biochemistry, Immunology, Analytical Chemistry, Biological Sciences, or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry laboratory experience; or M.S. in a related discipline with minimum 1 year of relevant biopharmaceutical industry laboratory experience.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with immunoassays, ligand-binding assays, analytical testing, bioanalytical testing, or related biological assay workflows.
• Experience with assay execution, reagent preparation, sample preparation, plate-based or bead-based assay setup, instrument operation, data analysis, assay controls, and documentation.
• Familiarity with immunoassay platforms such as ELISA, MSD, electrochemiluminescence-based assays, bead-based assays, multiplex assays, or other ligand-binding assay technologies.
• Ability to follow protocols, execute experiments carefully, document work accurately, and communicate observations clearly.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to laboratory safety, data integrity, documentation quality, and scientific excellence.
• Ability to manage multiple laboratory tasks, samples, reagents, and timelines in a fast-paced environment.