Manager, LNP R&D

GenScript is seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientific leader to lead its Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) R&D team in Seattle.

The successful candidate will bring multidisciplinary expertise in lipid nanoparticles, nucleic acid delivery, formulation development, and RNA therapeutics, together with demonstrated scientific leadership and people-management capability.

This role will lead the development and commercialization of innovative RNA and nucleic acid delivery technologies, with a focus on LNP platforms for mRNA, DNA, small RNAs, and other emerging nucleic acid modalities.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific and Technology Leadership

• Lead the development of innovative LNP and nucleic acid delivery platforms for mRNA, DNA, small RNAs, and other therapeutic payloads across diverse research and therapeutic applications.
• Drive next-generation LNP development, including novel ionizable lipid design and synthesis, formulation optimization, targeted LNPs, extrahepatic delivery, and tissue- or cell-specific delivery strategies.
• Establish technology roadmaps and development strategies that create differentiated LNP capabilities, products, and services.
• Partner with the RNA R&D team to develop integrated RNA and delivery solutions for vaccines, gene editing, protein replacement, cell engineering, and other emerging applications.
• Provide scientific leadership for LNP formulation design, screening, characterization, optimization, and delivery-performance evaluation.
• Monitor emerging technologies, scientific publications, competitive platforms, intellectual-property trends, and industry developments in nucleic acid delivery.

Team Leadership and Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing LNP R&D team, with responsibility for workforce planning, hiring, resource allocation, budgeting, performance management, and employee development.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, collaboration, transparency, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor scientists through regular one-on-one meetings, technical guidance, career-development discussions, and timely, constructive feedback.
• Allocate resources effectively to achieve project milestones, platform-development objectives, and organizational priorities.

Cross-Functional and Project Leadership

• Serve as the primary technical and organizational leader for LNP R&D and partner with RNA R&D, Operations, Production, Quality, Marketing, Sales, and Program Management.
• Define project scope, technical strategy, milestones, resource requirements, risks, and timelines for key R&D programs.
• Monitor project and team performance and communicate progress, risks, scientific findings, and recommendations to senior leadership through project reviews and presentations.
• Review and approve key R&D deliverables, including research reports, experimental protocols, SOPs, technical procedures, production records, presentations, and scientific publications.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization

• Lead the translation of new LNP technologies from early-stage R&D into robust, scalable, customer-facing products and services.
• Provide technical leadership for formulation scale-up, process optimization, technology transfer, and implementation in Production and Operations.
• Work with Production, Quality, and Operations to establish reproducible processes, critical process parameters, analytical requirements, and fit-for-purpose documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve platform performance, operational efficiency, scalability, reproducibility, profitability, and customer value.

Customer and Market Engagement

• Serve as a technical expert in customer discussions involving LNP formulation, nucleic acid delivery, troubleshooting, and customized development programs.
• Partner with Commercial, Marketing, and Program Management to understand customer needs and translate them into new capabilities and service offerings.
• Participate in scientific conferences, technical seminars, and customer engagements to identify emerging trends and unmet needs.
• Translate market and customer insights into actionable R&D priorities and technology roadmaps.

Laboratory, Quality, and Safety

• Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of laboratory procedures and technical workflows.
• Promote high standards of scientific documentation, experimental reproducibility, data integrity, and laboratory organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laboratory-safety requirements and GenScript EHS policies, particularly for lipid chemistry, formulation development, and chemical handling.
• Collaborate with EHS, Quality, and site leadership to maintain a safe and compliant laboratory environment.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant post-PhD industry or research experience in nucleic acid delivery, drug delivery, lipid nanoparticles, or related technologies.
• At least 2 years of direct people-management experience leading scientific or technical teams, including hiring, coaching, performance management, employee development, and resource planning.
• Deep scientific expertise in lipid nanoparticle formulation and nucleic acid delivery, particularly RNA delivery.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in LNP formulation, production, optimization, and analytical characterization.
• Strong understanding of lipid-based and/or polymeric nucleic acid delivery technologies.
• Experience with particle size/PDI, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, RNA concentration, lipid composition, morphology, and stability assessment.
• Experience evaluating nucleic acid delivery performance in relevant in vitro and/or in vivo models.
• Strong understanding of RNA biology and analytical methods for evaluating RNA quality, delivery, and functional expression.
• Experience with relevant molecular and cellular methods, which may include RT-qPCR, ELISA, Western blotting, flow cytometry, fluorescence-based assays, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and RNA-quantification methods.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data, identify root causes, design effective experiments, and make data-driven development decisions.
• Strong project-management and organizational capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and development programs.
• Excellent scientific writing, presentation, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and influence across technical and business functions without direct authority.
• High standards of integrity, scientific rigor, accountability, teamwork, and professional conduct.

Perks:

• Free colleague meals during shift
• Onsite gyms

Compensation:

• Salary range: $125,000 – $160,000 total compensation, including bonus, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one.
• Paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment, and a paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and company holidays.
• Additional benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, legal assistance, and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Commuter benefits, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs;