Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing
vaxcyte· Protein
About this role
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 seeking a talented and experienced Scientist II, to join the Upstream Process Development group within the Protein Development and CMC team. This is an exciting opportunity to join an outstanding team pursuing bacterial fermentation development at Vaxcyte.
The successful candidate will have the following skills and qualities:
- A skilled upstream scientist with expertise in developing and characterizing bacterial fermentation processes for protein production.
- Hands-on experience operating and maintaining bioreactors, including Ambr® 250, at laboratory scale.
- Experience with pilot scale fermentation and recovery equipment is a plus.
- Skillful in analyzing and presenting data for process improvements, troubleshooting, and optimization.
- An exceptional team player who works seamlessly with others, speaks up, and remains focused on achieving the best results to achieve company goals.
- An experienced scientist who works with growing independence, collaborates across functional teams, and mentors junior colleagues.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
Essential Functions:
- Contribute significantly to the development and characterization of upstream fermentation processes.
- Serve as a primary technical contributor to operational activities related to bioreactor set-up, monitoring, harvest, and maintenance.
- Develop, test, and implement recipe scripting for fed-batch fermentation feeding controls.
- Provide engineering support for design, implementation, and qualification of scale-down models.
- Author SOPs (standard operating procedure), process flow diagrams and batch records.
- Analyze and present fermentation data at internal project meetings. Participate in upstream database management and documentation in electronic notebooks.
- Collaborate with Downstream Process Development, Pilot Plant, MSAT, or Analytical Development as needed.
- Provide guidance or mentorship to junior team members.
Requirements:
- PhD with 2-5 years, MS with 7 years, or BA/BS with a minimum of 10 years of relevant Pharma/Biotech industry experience. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered.
- Strong scientific background and hands-on experience with fermentation and/or primary recovery unit operations.
- Good understanding in fundamentals of bioreactor design, operation and controls.
- Strong knowledge of aseptic techniques
- Mechanical and technical knowledge of primary recovery unit operations such as homogenization, centrifugation, and depth filtration, is a plus
- Understanding of fermentation scale up and development of scale down models
- Familiarity with DoE (Design of Experiments) principles and software.
- Familiarity with regulatory requirements of biotherapeutics. Late-stage process characterization experience is a plus.
Reports to: Senior Scientist, Upstream Development and Manufacturing
Location: San Carlos, CA
Work Arrangement (may be adjusted based on business needs, job responsibilities, or changes to company policy):
Onsite (5 days per week onsite)
Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.
Salary Range: $146,000 - $171,000
Equal Opportunity
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.
Recruitment Fraud Notice
Please be aware of fraud or scams from individuals, organizations and/or internet sites claiming to represent Vaxcyte in recruitment activities. Vaxcyte has an established recruitment process for all positions prior to issuing an offer for employment and we will never extend unsolicited employment offers or ask candidates to provide financial or sensitive personal information as part of the application process. All legitimate communication from Vaxcyte will come from an official @vaxcyte.com email address. Qualified and interested candidates should apply to current openings at vaxcyte.com/careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing role at vaxcyte?
The listed salary for this Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing position at vaxcyte is USD 146K–171K. This is an full-time role.
Where is the Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing position at vaxcyte located?
This Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing role at vaxcyte is based in San Carlos, California, United States. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Which team or department does the Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing at vaxcyte belong to?
This Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing position is part of the Protein department at vaxcyte. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing position at vaxcyte?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to vaxcyte's official application portal hosted on greenhouse where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing job at vaxcyte posted?
This Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing position at vaxcyte was posted on Jun 29, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Scientist II, Upstream Development for Protein Development and Manufacturing
vaxcyte · 💰 USD 146K–171K
You'll be redirected to vaxcyte's official application page on Greenhouse.