Associate Scientist II, Immunoassay Development
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 20, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 1, 2026. Vaxcyte scores A on the Alion truth index.
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 an accomplished Associate Scientist II, Immunoassay Development to join the CMC Immunoassay group. This role will provide scientific and strategic leadership for the development, qualification, characterization, governance, and lifecycle management of critical reagents and reference materials that support immunoassays across Vaxcyte's vaccine pipeline.
The Associate Scientist will work closely with scientists, senior scientists, and laboratory leaders to execute immunoassays, support fit-for-purpose method development, assist with troubleshooting studies, and contribute to high-quality laboratory documentation and data integrity.
Essential Functions:
- Perform hands-on assay execution to support immunoassay development, optimization, platform evaluation, routine testing, method transfer support, and under direct supervision, validation readiness, and lifecycle activities.
- Engage daily in laboratory operations, including reagent preparation, sample handling, plate or bead preparation, instrument operation, assay setup, data capture, documentation, and laboratory organization.
- Execute immunoassays supporting potency, antigenicity, identity, impurity, characterization, comparability, release, stability, and development-stage analytical needs.
- Support experiments using ELISA, MSD, bead-based assays, multiplex assays, electrochemiluminescence-based assays, or other ligand-binding assay formats.
- Prepare reagents, buffers, samples, plates, beads, assay controls, reference materials, and other materials required for immunoassay testing.
- Generate and summarize assay data, including standard curves, sample response, dilution response, recovery, precision, assay controls, and system suitability results.
- Under direction of a Scientist or Sr. Scientist, support troubleshooting studies by executing experiments, documenting observations, organizing data, and communicating findings to scientists and project leads.
- Support critical reagent and reference material activities, including aliquoting, labeling, inventory tracking, reagent screening, lot comparison, stability study support, and qualification-support testing.
- Maintain accurate and timely laboratory documentation, including ELN entries, assay worksheets, reagent records, sample records, and data summaries.
- Support laboratory readiness, including consumable tracking, instrument use coordination, sample tracking, safety compliance, and good laboratory practices.
Requirements:
- BS. in Biochemistry, Immunology, Analytical Chemistry, Biological Sciences, or a related discipline with a minimum of 2 years of relevant biopharmaceutical industry laboratory experience; or M.S. in a related discipline with minimum 1 year of relevant biopharmaceutical industry laboratory experience.
- Hands-on laboratory experience with immunoassays, ligand-binding assays, analytical testing, bioanalytical testing, or related biological assay workflows.
- Experience with assay execution, reagent preparation, sample preparation, plate-based or bead-based assay setup, instrument operation, data analysis, assay controls, and documentation.
- Familiarity with immunoassay platforms such as ELISA, MSD, electrochemiluminescence-based assays, bead-based assays, multiplex assays, or other ligand-binding assay technologies.
- Ability to follow protocols, execute experiments carefully, document work accurately, and communicate observations clearly.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to laboratory safety, data integrity, documentation quality, and scientific excellence.
- Ability to manage multiple laboratory tasks, samples, reagents, and timelines in a fast-paced environment.
Reports to: Director, Immunoassay Development
Location: San Carlos, CA
Work Arrangement (may be adjusted based on business needs, job responsibilities, or changes to company policy):
Onsite (minimum of 4 days per week onsite)
Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.
Salary Range: $105,000 - $123,000 (SF Bay Area).
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.