Principal Research Associate, Analytical Development

The Role:

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients.

Moderna is strengthening its presence in Norwood, Massachusetts, a cornerstone of our manufacturing and operational excellence. Our Norwood campus translates mRNA science into scalable impact, supporting the global delivery of our medicines. We welcome talent ready to drive innovation and make a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.

In this role, you will serve as a critical bridge between Analytical Development and Quality Control, ensuring that cell-based bioassays are robust, transferable, and fully operational across development, clinical, and commercial testing environments.
As a Principal Research Associate, you will bring deep technical expertise in potency assays to translate development-stage methods into QC-ready assays, proactively addressing challenges related to transfer, readiness, and lifecycle performance.
Working as an individual contributor in a 100% onsite environment in Norwood, you will collaborate cross-functionally while leveraging advanced digital tools and Generative AI to enhance assay transfer, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Here’s What You’ll Do:

• Serve as a liaison between Analytical Development and Quality Control, ensuring alignment on cell-based bioassay expectations, readiness, and performance

• Represent bioassay method development in cross-functional forums with Analytical Sciences & Technology (AS&T) and QC

• Ensure bioassays are designed to meet appropriate technical, operational, and regulatory requirements prior to qualification or validation

• Serve as bioassay subject matter expert for investigations and troubleshooting of assay performance issues across development and QC environments, identifying root causes, testing hypotheses, and implementing solutions

• Lead assay optimization and continuous improvement efforts based on operational feedback, robustness requirements, and lifecycle needs

• Collaborate with Quality and AS&T teams to support deviation investigations, CAPAs, and change controls related to analytical methods

• Analyze and interpret complex datasets to inform bioassay performance, variability, and comparability

• Author and review technical documentation including protocols, reports, and method lifecycle documents

• Contribute to cross-functional strategy discussions related to bioassay and analytical control strategies

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

“We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”

“We remove viscosity to encourage collective action.”

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications) 

• BS degree with ≥5 years, or MS degree with ≥2 years of relevant industry experience in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Immunology, Biological Engineering or related field

• Strong hands-on experience with cell-based bioassays and/or other relevant bioanalytical methods

• Experience with flow cytometry, ELISA, HPLC, mass spectrometry, and/or reporter-based assays

• Demonstrated experience with analytical method transfer to QC or external laboratories

• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex assay issues and lead investigations in a GMP or late-stage development environment

• Understanding of CQA frameworks, assay lifecycle management, and regulatory expectations

• Experience working cross-functionally with Quality, QC, and/or manufacturing organizations

• Strong analytical thinking and ability to interpret data to drive decisions and improvements

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts across functions

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment

• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable operating with a high degree of ownership

• This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work.

• At Moderna, we are focused on delivering on our mission by enabling talent to thrive. For this role, we are currently unable to offer immigration sponsorship. Candidates must already hold work authorization in US and be able to maintain that status without the need for future sponsorship.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs

• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support

• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown

• Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future

• Location-specific perks and extras

The salary range for this role is $89,900.00 - $143,800.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Our Working Model 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. 

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. 

Equal Opportunities

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law.  Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!

Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

Accommodations

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

Export Control Notice This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license. #LI-TR2

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