Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing

Vaxcyte, a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company headquartered in San Carlos, San Mateo County, is seeking a full-time Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing. This is an exciting opportunity to drive the development of novel vaccine manufacturing processes for therapeutics designed to combat serious bacterial infections.

About the Role

As Scientist II in Upstream Development, you will own the design, development, and optimization of bioprocessing strategies that bring our protein-based vaccine candidates from laboratory scale to manufacturing readiness. You'll work at the intersection of discovery and production, translating research findings into robust, scalable processes that meet regulatory standards and manufacturing requirements.

What You'll Do

• Design and execute upstream bioprocess experiments, including cell culture and fermentation optimization studies
• Develop and characterize protein expression systems to achieve target yields, purity, and quality attributes
• Execute process scale-up activities from bench to pilot-scale manufacturing environments
• Perform comprehensive process characterization and validation supporting regulatory submissions
• Troubleshoot manufacturing issues and implement corrective actions based on data analysis
• Collaborate with manufacturing, analytics, and quality teams to ensure process robustness and compliance
• Maintain detailed laboratory documentation following current good manufacturing practices (cGMP)
• Contribute to technical reports and regulatory filings supporting product development

What We're Looking For

• Background in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, biotechnology, or related life science discipline
• Professional experience in bioprocessing, upstream development, or vaccine and biopharmaceutical manufacturing
• Hands-on expertise in cell culture, fermentation, or protein purification at laboratory and pilot scale
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and troubleshoot manufacturing processes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail and data integrity
• Knowledge of process optimization, scale-up methodologies, and process control strategies
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and quality systems in biopharmaceutical manufacturing
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and collaborative working style

About Vaxcyte

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company engineering innovative vaccines to address serious bacterial infections including invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella. Our mission is to develop next-generation vaccines that protect human health and reduce the burden of these costly bacterial diseases.

How to Apply

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.