Principal Research Associate, Analytical Development (mRNA)

Location: Norwood, Massachusetts, United States; 100% onsite. Due to U.S. export control requirements, only U.S. persons are eligible, and visa sponsorship is not available.

Salary: $89,900–$143,800 per year, with potential eligibility for discretionary bonus, incentive compensation, or equity.

Company

hirify.global develops mRNA-based medicines, vaccines, and therapeutic technologies.

What you will do

• Execute microbiological method development, optimization, characterization, qualification, and validation studies.
• Develop and evaluate methods for bioburden, bacterial endotoxin, sterility, environmental monitoring, and related testing.
• Plan experiments, analyze data, identify variability, troubleshoot technical issues, and recommend next steps.
• Author protocols, methods, technical reports, validation documentation, and development summaries.
• Support investigations, deviations, root-cause assessments, regulatory questions, and cross-functional technical evaluations.
• Transfer methods to internal and external QC laboratories and evaluate rapid or alternative microbiological technologies and automation.

Requirements

• M.S. in Microbiology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field with 4+ years of relevant experience; or B.S./B.A. with 6+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Hands-on experience with microbiological methods and analytical method development, qualification, validation, or troubleshooting.
• Experience with bioburden, bacterial endotoxin, and sterility methods; environmental monitoring experience is desirable.
• Understanding of method performance, suitability, controls, interference, recovery, variability, and fitness for intended use.
• Strong data analysis, scientific problem-solving, written and verbal communication, documentation, and data integrity skills.
• Must qualify as a U.S. person under applicable export control laws; non-U.S. persons cannot be sponsored for an export control license.

Nice to have

• Experience with rapid or alternative microbiological methods, microbial identification, or related technologies.
• Experience with mRNA, lipid nanoparticles, vaccines, biologics, or other advanced therapeutic modalities.
• Familiarity with USP and other applicable compendial and regulatory expectations.

Culture & Benefits

• Fully onsite work supporting direct collaboration, mentorship, and site-based operations.
• Competitive healthcare and voluntary benefit programs.
• Fitness, mindfulness, mental health, family planning, fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support.
• Paid vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and discretionary year-end shutdown.
• Savings and investment programs plus location-specific perks.