Principal Scientist

Make Your Mark with a Job at Alphanumeric Principal Scientist – Cambridge, MA – Posted: 4/29/2026 – Job ID: 8358 Alphanumeric is hiring a PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST to work in Cambridge, MA with our client of 20 years committed to improving lives through medical and pharmaceutical advancements. Pay Range: $78.00 - $83.50/hour (W2) W2 only. No C2C or third-party candidates will be considered. Position Overview We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Scientist to lead the development of scalable, cell-based assay platforms for evaluating and ranking multi-epitope mRNA construct designs in a high-throughput environment. This role requires deep expertise in flow cytometry and microscopy-based cellular readouts, with the ability to translate complex assay data into clear, actionable design recommendations to advance mRNA vaccine development. Key Responsibilities Lead development of cell-based assays to evaluate and rank multi-epitope mRNA construct designs (e.g., expression/presentation proxies, antigen-specific T cell activation, breadth/competition effects). Provide technical leadership in flow cytometry , including panel design, controls, acquisition, gating strategies, SOP development, troubleshooting, and data quality control. Partner closely with Molecular Biology and RNA teams to design and iterate mRNA constructs based on assay outcomes. Establish robust, reproducible workflows using cell lines and/or primary immune cells . Enable high-throughput assay execution (96/384-well formats) with standardized controls and scalable analysis templates. Mentor team members and build internal capabilities around new assay platforms. Ensure data integrity, documentation, and compliance with internal standards; support assay transfer across teams and sites. Stay current on advancements in RNA vaccines, immunology, and assay technologies . Contribute to internal reports, publications, and scientific presentations . Foster a collaborative, high-performance scientific environment. Basic Qualifications PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology or related field with 3+ years of postdoctoral and/or industry experience (or MS with 8+ years). Strong knowledge of molecular biology techniques (cloning, RNA production, characterization). Deep understanding of RNA biology and mRNA vaccine design principles . Extensive hands-on experience with flow cytometry (design to execution to analysis) and building reproducible assays. Experience working with immune and/or engineered cell lines . Practical experience with microscopy-based assays (confocal or high-content imaging). Preferred Qualifications Experience with high-throughput cellular assay development (96/384-well formats, assay miniaturization, robustness metrics). Hands-on experience with automation platforms (e.g., Tecan, Hamilton) or strong collaboration with automation teams. Familiarity with multiplex protein assays (e.g., cytokine panels). Expertise in T cell functional assays and translating results into construct design decisions. Knowledge of antigen processing and presentation pathways . Exposure to immunopeptidomics . Experience with data workflows for high-throughput biology (LIMS, metadata standards, reproducible pipelines). Must-Have Skills Flow cytometry assay development and analysis Cell-based assay design (immune-focused) mRNA/RNA biology and construct optimization Data interpretation and decision-making for design iteration Cross-functional collaboration (biology + RNA + data teams) What Type of Individuals Excel in This Environment Scientifically curious and driven to solve complex biological problems Thrive in fast-paced, iterative R&D environments Strong ownership mindset with ability to lead from the bench Comfortable translating data into strategy and action Collaborative and able to influence across cross-functional teams Nice-to-Have (Edge) Qualifications Experience in vaccine development or infectious disease research Background in biotech/pharma R&D environments Familiarity with AI/ML-supported assay analysis or design workflows Prior experience scaling assays from early research to platform level Additional Information Industry experience in biotech, pharmaceutical, or related life sciences strongly preferred; adjacent research environments (academic labs, translational research institutes) will be considered. #J-18808-Ljbffr alphanumeric