Research Associate I / Research Associate II, Manufacturing Process Research (Oligonucleotide Manufacturing)

Location: Carlsbad, California; onsite

Salary: $69,003–$110,000 annually. Research Associate I: $69,003–$95,934; Research Associate II: $85,929–$110,000.

Company

A biotechnology and pharmaceutical organization developing RNA-targeted medicines, oligonucleotide drug substances, and drug products for clinical and commercial programs.

What you will do

• Execute defined laboratory experiments supporting oligonucleotide process development and manufacturing research.
• Perform solid-phase synthesis operations, including reagent preparation, coupling, oxidation, detritylation, cleavage, and deprotection.
• Prepare, process, and purify oligonucleotide materials using chromatography, filtration, tangential flow filtration, annealing, concentration, and isolation.
• Evaluate process conditions, materials, resins, reagents, and equipment settings under the guidance of experienced scientists.
• Review chromatographic and mass-spectrometric data, yields, recoveries, concentrations, and impurity profiles.
• Document experiments in electronic laboratory notebooks and technical reports while collaborating with manufacturing, analytical, quality, and process chemistry teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related scientific discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Research Associate II candidates require at least two years of relevant experience.
• Basic chemistry, laboratory practice, and scientific problem-solving knowledge gained through academic, internship, research, or industry experience.
• Ability to follow written procedures, analyze and communicate experimental results, recognize deviations, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, communication, collaboration, data accuracy, and documentation skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Carlsbad, California, stand for extended periods, and safely handle hazardous chemicals and biological or pharmaceutical materials.

Nice to have

• Experience with oligonucleotides, nucleic acids, peptide conjugates, process chemistry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or purification science.
• Familiarity with solid-phase synthesis, chromatography, filtration, tangential flow filtration, HPLC, LC-MS, or UV detection.
• Experience using electronic laboratory notebooks, laboratory information systems, spreadsheets, or scientific data systems.
• Exposure to good laboratory practices, good manufacturing practices, chemical hygiene, or data integrity principles.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, cross-functional laboratory and manufacturing environment.
• Opportunities to work across antisense, siRNA, conjugated, and other modified oligonucleotide modalities.
• Training and increasing scope, responsibility, and technical impact.
• Excellent benefits package.
• Occasional schedule flexibility may be required for time-sensitive experiments or manufacturing activities.