$167,000 – $300,700
Listed on Moderna’s own careers site. You apply with them directly — we never stand between you and the employer.
What this role is
Moderna seeks a Director of Analytical Chemistry to lead discovery-stage analytical efforts for mRNA-lipid nanoparticle research, defining strategies and managing teams across characterization, method development, and early translational work. This role suits experienced analytical chemists with deep expertise in separation science, lipid and small-molecule analysis, and proven leadership who want to shape analytical direction in a fast-moving biotech environment.
Our summary, not Moderna’s wording. The full posting is on their site.
Skills this role names
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What they ask for
Required
- Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Biology, Chemical Engineering, or closely related field with 9+ years relevant industry experience (or M.S. with substantial leadership experience)
- Substantial analytical chemistry experience supporting discovery or early development in biotech or pharmaceutical settings with demonstrated program or function-level leadership
- Deep expertise in small molecule, polymer, and lipid analytical chemistry including structure elucidation, impurity assessment, and method development
- Deep expertise in separation techniques and analytical platforms including UPLC, HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, NMR, spectroscopy, and physicochemical characterization
- Working knowledge of large molecule and nucleic acid analytics with meaningful familiarity in mRNA or RNA characterization
- Demonstrated managerial and technical leadership in direct and matrix environments
- Experience with technology transfer to internal or external partners and building CRO/CDMO relationships
- Experience developing phase-appropriate analytical strategies bridging discovery and development
- Sound understanding of analytical methods for mRNA-LNP products and component relationships
- Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebooks, CDS, LES, or LIMS
- Experience applying high-throughput methodologies and leveraging AI/ML for data analysis
- Excellent communication and influence skills to distill complex data into clear recommendations
- Ability to drive teams toward best practices in fast-paced environment
- Site-based full-time presence in Cambridge, MA; not eligible for remote work
Nice to have
- Experience supporting mRNA-LNP, oligonucleotide, gene editing, or related nucleic acid modalities in discovery, translational, or early development
- Experience with lipid library characterization, ionizable lipid structure-property relationships, and high-throughput formulation screening
- Experience contributing to IND-enabling or early clinical development programs and regulatory submissions
- Familiarity with design of experiments, multivariate data analysis, and cheminformatics workflows
- Publication, patent, or innovation record demonstrating thought leadership in analytical chemistry or delivery sciences