Principal Research Associate, Lipid Nanoparticle Formulation and Analytics (LNP)

Location: Leiden Center I, United States of America. On-site five days per week, with ad hoc flexibility.

Base salary: $88,200–$132,400 per year. The role is also eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards.

Company

Vertex is a global biotechnology company focused on scientific innovation and drug development.

What you will do

• Formulate, purify, and analyze lipid nanoparticles at small and large scale using industry-standard protocols.
• Run LNP analytics covering size, cargo encapsulation efficiency, pKa, osmolality, endotoxin, and related quality attributes.
• Optimize formulation and process-development parameters, including mixing rates and purification conditions, to improve yield, scalability, and product quality.
• Execute automated formulation and analytics workflows, troubleshoot protocol issues, and identify process improvements.
• Maintain complete ELN-based experimental records, follow SOPs, and meet project deadlines in a dynamic drug-development environment.
• Present experimental designs and data clearly while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in chemistry, pharmaceutical science, chemical engineering, biochemistry, or a related discipline with 5+ years of industry experience, or a bachelor’s degree in one of these disciplines with 7+ years of industry experience.
• Extensive hands-on experience with LNP formation mixing technologies, including microfluidic mixing and impingement jet mixing devices.
• Experience with LNP purification techniques, including tangential flow filtration, and with assembling and operating mixer and TFF systems.
• Deep knowledge of LNP process-development experiments and experience planning and executing DoE-driven method development.
• Experience with LNP formulation manufacturing for non-human primate studies.
• Experience running LNP analytics for size, PDI, cargo encapsulation, pKa, osmolality, and endotoxin measurement.
• Strong communication skills, collaborative mindset, exemplary work ethic, and commitment to scientific rigor.

Nice to have

• Practical experience with LC-MS or other LNP assay development.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, fast-paced environment focused on scientific rigor, continuous learning, and cross-functional work.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits, generous paid time off, and week-long summer and winter company shutdowns.
• Educational assistance programs, including student loan repayment, plus a commuting subsidy.
• Matching charitable donations, 401(k), and other total-rewards benefits.
• Vertex supports reasonable accommodations and equal employment opportunity.