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Full-Time
Hybrid

Director, Process Development

MModerna, Inc.1 Moderna Way, Norwood, MAUS$167,000 - US$300,700 per year
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Description

Moderna is seeking a Director to lead upstream process development, focusing on E. coli-based production of recombinant enzymes and plasmids essential for their technology platforms and pipeline. This role involves setting technical strategy, driving execution in strain and expression enablement, upstream fermentation process development, scale-up/scale-down, process characterization, and technology transfer to manufacturing. The director will partner with various internal teams to deliver robust, scalable, and compliant processes.

What We're Looking For

Set strategy and lead execution for host strain, expression vector/plasmid, and upstream process development.,Translate needs into platform process roadmaps and ensure predictable delivery from strain development through tech transfer.,Build and develop a high-performing team, establishing technical standards and development pathways.,Lead upstream development for high-cell-density microbial fermentation, including media and feed design/development.,Optimize fed-batch strategies and key process parameters.,Apply DOE and data-driven development to define robust operating spaces.,Leverage host strains and expression vector/plasmid DNA design for desired process outcomes.,Use understanding of E. coli metabolism to manage oxygen limitation risk, overflow metabolism, redox/energy balance, carbon flux, and growth/production tradeoffs.,Define and implement physiology-aware control strategies.,Establish and standardize inline/at-line monitoring approaches and dashboards.,Define and track cell health indicators.,Deploy fit-for-purpose inline/online sensors and PAT tools.,Drive alignment of PAT and automation with manufacturing systems.,Partner with downstream purification and analytical development to define upstream-to-downstream interfaces.,Support investigations and troubleshooting through integrated upstream–downstream root cause thinking.,Lead technology transfer into internal manufacturing.,Ensure development is aligned with quality expectations and contribute to CMC/regulatory sections.

Ideal Candidate

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related discipline (or MS/BS with significant relevant industry experience).,Significant industry experience (10+ years) leading E.coli or microbial process development programs.,Subject matter expertise in strain engineering and fermentation optimization.,Extensive firsthand experience with developing bacterial expression/production processes for enzymes/plasmids.,Deep expertise in E. coli fermentation, including high-cell-density fed-batch development and execution.,Demonstrated strength in media and feed design and control of nutrient/trace element strategies.,Strong understanding of fermentation physiology and microbial metabolism.,Experience implementing and interpreting online/inline measurements including off-gas analytics.,Proven people leadership and ability to lead through ambiguity and fast timelines.,Strong cross-functional influence and communication skills.,Demonstrated hands-on experience and knowledge of fermentation science and biochemical engineering principles, theory, and practice.,Direct experience developing and scaling recombinant enzyme & plasmid production in E. coli and/or broader microbial hosts (preferred).,Track record implementing advanced feeding strategies and process state control using respiration metrics and/or soft sensors (preferred).,Experience implementing PAT toolsets for microbial processes (off-gas, capacitance, model-based estimation) (preferred).,Working knowledge or better across downstream operations (preferred).,Experience supporting CMC deliverables and regulatory interactions (preferred).,Experience with internal/external manufacturing partners (preferred).

Minimum Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related discipline; or MS/BS with significant relevant industry experience

Hard Skills

E. coli-based production
Recombinant enzymes and plasmids production
Strain and expression strategy enablement
Upstream fermentation process development
Scale-up/scale-down
Process characterization
Technology transfer
E.coli physiology
Fermentation engineering
Fed-batch strategies
Media/feed development
Inline measurements/PAT
Oxygen transfer/respiration metrics (OUR/CER)
Host strain, expression vector/plasmid development
High-cell-density microbial fermentation
Media and feed design (defined/semi-defined media, carbon/nitrogen strategies, trace elements, antifoam, osmolality management)
DO-stat / pH-stat strategies
Process parameter optimization (temperature shifts, pH, DO, agitation/aeration, backpressure, antifoam, bolus vs continuous feeding)
DOE (Design of Experiments)
Data-driven development
Microbial physiology and metabolism
Oxygen limitation risk management
Overflow metabolism (acetate formation)
Redox/energy balance, carbon flux, growth/production tradeoffs
Physiology-aware control strategies
Inline/at-line monitoring
Off-gas analysis
Cell health indicators (growth rate control, stress-response proxies, morphology/aggregation indicators, viability)
Inline/online sensors and PAT tools (pH/DO, capacitance/biomass, Raman/NIR, soft sensors/model-based estimators)
Automation
Downstream purification partnership
Analytical development partnership
Harvest timing/criteria, clarification strategy, impurity load management
Endotoxin/host contaminants and nucleic acid burden control
CMC deliverables
Regulatory interactions

Soft Skills

Leadership
Team building
Mentorship
Strategic thinking
Problem-solving
Cross-functional influence
Communication skills
Ability to operate as a technical decision-maker
Escalation point management
Ability to lead through ambiguity and fast timelines
Teamwork
Innovation

Benefits

Best-in-class healthcare coverage
Voluntary benefit programs
Holistic approach to well-being
Access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
Family planning benefits (fertility, adoption, surrogacy support)
Generous paid time off (vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, discretionary year-end shutdown)
Savings and investment opportunities
Location-specific perks and extras
Annual discretionary bonus (eligible)
Other incentive compensation (eligible)
Equity award (eligible)

Special Commitments

Must be able to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law.,Only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position.

About the Company

M

Moderna, Inc.

Moderna is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of medicines made of messenger RNA (mRNA). The company's platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Innovative
Science-driven
Collaborative
Fast-paced
Mission-oriented
View all jobs at Moderna, Inc.

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