Associate Scientist II, Nonclinical & Immunoassay

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.

WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

• RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
• AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
• LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
• MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

Vaxcyte is looking for an energetic and talented Associate Scientist II to manufacture and test all reagents required for immunoassay detection of multi-valent vaccines. In particular, the reagents we are using need to be conjugated to different entities and then characterized and catalogued for our multiplexed assays. Extreme control of this assay is required to maintain DS shelf life and more importantly, ensuring DP compounding is successful in relation to the final dose of each DS in the clinic.

We require an Associate Scientist II who will continue the development and optimization of assay suites for our current 3 programs, and for upcoming research projects. This person will be part of a larger team that will continue this development. The role requires an extremely high level of organization, and the ability to maintain large volumes of data for the various DS and DP entities. In addition, the successful candidate will require significant experience in developing, trouble shooting and running ELISA-type assays, including generation of the critical reagents, which includes generating high-affinity antibodies specific to the antigen.

Essential Functions:

• Help continue the development and optimization of assay suites for our current programs, and for the

following research projects.

• Have an extremely high level of organization, and the ability to maintain large volumes of data for the various DS and DP entities.
• Demonstrate experience in developing, trouble shooting and running ELISA-type assays, including generation of the critical reagents, which includes generating high-affinity antibodies specific to the antigen and reviewing production protocols, requesting quotes, interacting with vendors, collecting and providing updates on production timelines.
• Collaborate closely with external Vaxcyte Team members and to ensure supply/demand, DS and DP methods, CMO status and timelines are all in sync with assay development activities to hit milestones as needed.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (BSc) in Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or Organic Biochemistry with a minimum 2 years of relevant experience, or Master's degree (MSc) in the same fields with minimum 1 year of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ideal candidate will have a significant background in plate-based assay development and antibody characterization including Akta, HPLC and BLI.
• Experience in protein analysis such as SEC, HPLC, SDS-page, CE-SDS, and cIEF and binding kinetics is a plus.
• Having a high degree of organizational capabilities for both reagents and experimental scheduling a must.
• Prior experience of transferring methods to external partners for validation and GMP will be of a significant benefit, and first-hand experience of a QC environment would also be advantageous.
• Experience in immunoassay development, qualification, validation, trouble shooting and aiding in OOS investigations is highly desired.
• The ability to present complex data sets and independently propose and design follow-up experiments are also required.
• Maintaining good laboratory practices, safety and record keeping for them-selves and their team is required.

Reports to: Senior Manager, Clinical Serology, Nonclinical & Immunoassay Development

Location: San Carlos, CA

Compensation:

The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.

Salary Range: $105,000 - $122,000 *(SF Bay Area).

Relocation:

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.