{"id":3634748,"url":"https://alion.io/job/pivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization","title":"Senior Research Associate, Formulation and Analytical Characterization","company":{"id":2553121,"name":"Pivotal Life Sciences","domain":"pivotallifesciences.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/pivotallifesciences","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"BambooHR","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"}},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["San Diego, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Flow Cytometry","optional":false},{"name":"HPLC","optional":false},{"name":"GLP","optional":true},{"name":"GMP","optional":true},{"name":"GraphPad Prism","optional":true},{"name":"JMP","optional":true},{"name":"Minitab","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-02T20:51:27Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-02","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T13:18:54Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":0,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":0},"description":"Job Title: Senior Research Associate, Formulation and Analytical Characterization\nLocation:San Diego\nJob Type:Full-Time\nAbout Us:A new stealth-mode biotech focused on in vivo gene editing.\nJob Summary:We are seeking a motivated Senior Research Associate with strong analytical characterization expertise to join our team. This hands-on, lab-based role centers on the physicochemical characterization of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations using NanoFCM, dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), encapsulation efficiency assays, and other routine and advanced analytical methods. The successful candidate will generate the high-quality characterization data that drives formulation decisions and will also directly support LNP formulation activities, including preparation, optimization, and process troubleshooting. This is an ideal role for a scientist who thrives at the bench, combines rigorous analytical skills with practical formulation experience, and wants to make a direct impact in a fast-moving gene therapy program. Final title and salary commensurate with experience.\nKey Responsibilities:\nPerform routine and advanced analytical characterization of LNP formulations, including particle sizing (DLS, NTA), zeta potential measurement, encapsulation efficiency (RiboGreen or equivalent), and particle concentration and phenotyping by NanoFCM.\nOperate, maintain, calibrate, and troubleshoot NanoFCM instrumentation; develop and optimize NanoFCM methods for single-particle analysis of LNP and targeted LNP (tLNP) populations, including fluorescence-based labeling strategies for cargo and surface ligand detection.\nExecute and support LNP formulation activities using microfluidic mixing platforms (e.g., NanoAssemblr), including lipid stock preparation, formulation parameter optimization, and small-scale screening experiments.\nPerform additional characterization assays as needed, including cryo-TEM sample preparation, HPLC-based lipid and RNA quantitation, gel electrophoresis for RNA integrity, and UV/Vis spectrophotometry.\nAnalyze, compile, and present characterization data to support formulation development decisions; generate clear data summaries, trend analyses, and comparison reports for cross-functional review.\nMaintain detailed and accurate electronic laboratory notebooks, ensuring data integrity and traceability for all characterization and formulation activities.\nContribute to the development and documentation of analytical SOPs, method qualification protocols, and technical reports.\nManage laboratory inventory for characterization reagents, consumables, and standards; ensure instruments are maintained on schedule and operating within specification.\nCollaborate with formulation scientists, downstream process scientists, analytical scientists, and biology teams to align characterization workflows with program timelines.\nStay current with emerging nanoparticle characterization technologies and methods relevant to LNP drug product development.\nQualifications:\nBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. Ph.D. candidates with relevant experience are also encouraged to apply. Title and salary will be commensurate with experience.\n3-5+ years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical formulation and/or analytical characterization, with a focus on lipid nanoparticles or related colloidal drug delivery systems.\nDirect experience with nanoparticle sizing and characterization techniques, including DLS, NTA, and NanoFCM or traditional flow cytometry.\nProficiency in encapsulation efficiency assays (e.g., RiboGreen, PicoGreen, or equivalent fluorescence-based methods).\nFamiliarity with LNP formulation workflows, including microfluidic mixing and basic lipid handling.\nStrong data analysis skills; comfortable working with instrument software and generating publication-quality figures and reports.\nExcellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple concurrent assays and projects.\nStrong communication and teamwork abilities; comfortable presenting data to cross-functional teams.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nHands-on experience with NanoFCM or traditional flow cytometry, ideally for single-particle analysis of nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, or similar systems.\nExperience supporting GMP or GLP analytical activities, or familiarity with method qualification/validation in a regulated environment.\nExperience with cryo-TEM sample preparation or interpretation of cryo-TEM images for LNP morphology assessment.\nFamiliarity with downstream LNP processing (TFF, SEC) and in-process characterization requirements.\nKnowledge of mRNA or gene therapy product development.\nExperience with DOE-based experimental design and statistical analysis tools (e.g., JMP, Minitab, GraphPad Prism).\nBenefits:\nCompetitive salary, equity, and benefits package.\nOpportunities for professional growth and development.\nFast-paced collaborative and innovative work environment.\nHow to Apply:Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience. To be considered for the role, applicants must be:\nEligible to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship.\nAble to work onsite in the lab located in San Diego.\nA direct candidate and not from a third party, i.e. staffing agency.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5450,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Biotechnology"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-11-02T20:51:27Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"Filed H-1B visas in the last two years","filings_12m":0,"filings_prev_12m":1,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":null,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-29T16:27:21+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/pivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/pivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T13:27:01Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":18654,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2553121},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2553121"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fpivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fpivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fpivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/pivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fpivotal-life-sciences-senior-research-associate-formulation-and-analytical-characterization"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3634748}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"pivotallifesciences.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3634748},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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