Vertex Fall 2025 Co-op, Manufacturing Science and Technology, Small Molecule Drug Product (Boston, MA)

Job Description

The Vertex Co-op Program offers students the opportunity to learn about the pharmaceutical industry from a hands-on perspective. You will be working closely with and learning from some of the brightest people in the industry. When you join our co-op program you should not be surprised to see that our environment is one that is innovative and team oriented, where collaboration is not just a word, and "we are relentless" is in everything we do. Students can expect to be challenged by their project plan, connect with other co-ops, and feel valued by the Vertex community. Not only will co-ops learn about their day-to-day tasks through their specific work assignments, but they will interact and have exposure to our organizational leaders and their teams.

Job Summary:

The Manufacturing Sciences and Technology Small Molecule Drug Product department is tasked with launch and  lifecycle management of Vertex commercial medicines. This includes technology transfers and routine manufacturing oversight. Manufacturing technology strategy development initiatives as part of cross-departmental collaborations (ie Formulation and the Vertex Manufacturing Center) are becoming a focus for MSAT.

Vertex’s long standing leadership in the Continuous Manufacturing (CM) space is under evolution. A key component is the development of next-generation continuous manufacturing technologies which will become future state of the art and potentially default platforms for small molecule drug development and manufacturing for MSAT and its partners. The goal of the Co-Op position will be to contribute to the design (conceptual) of commercially implementable flexible CM technologies which will satisfy needs of MSAT SM DP and its partners.

Key Responsibilities:

As stated, next generation Continuous Manufacturing technologies are an ongoing focus point for Vertex. As part of this initiative, so-called ‘CM2.0’, equipment design surround a continuous material feeding and blending module is a critical component. The key responsibilities of the Co-op will surround this activity and are summarized below along with foreseen outputs.

• CM2.0 activities are in progress, which surround the development of a low risk, rapid TechTransfer equipment set-up to enable clinical/commercial manufacturing both internally and as a transfer tool externally.
• While this is still mostly in the conceptual design phase, the foreseen module is mostly centered around flexible use for an innovative company and not fully geared towards commercial manufacturing settings and operation. There is a need for a detailed design of a material handling, feeding, and blending module for which Vertex SMEs have completed conceptual design work with external partners. This is still under development, and there is a need for design work around commercially-oriented equipment.
• The design concept and high-level operating philosophy/business case for commercially-viable rig which could be placed at various CDMO or other commercial sites is the main deliverable of the project.
• This day-to-day tasks will consist of the development of a design concept (ie 3D Model) of a powder/blend feeding module including material handling and refill systems as well as process mapping and business-oriented documentation which could serve as a base for future detailed vendor engineering studies and potential purchase/implementation of such a system in the future.

Output:

• Full 3D CAD Model for the flexible feeder module design (ie variable feeders, variable material handling capabilities, etc.)
• Capability map for the new equipment (ie feeding/blending, direct compression, etc) as it relates to Vertex small molecule pipeline
• Assembly/disassembly manual (including ancillary equipment needs)
• Facilities requirements
• Cost estimates and potential business case evaluation. Contribution to overall Vertex strategy of CM vision.
• Cleaning/turnaround estimation times
• Workflow planning (ie material flow, operational needs, etc)

Qualifications:

The candidate should be a Mechanical Engineering Junior or Senior, or graduate student. Experience with machine/electro-mechanical design (conceptual) is key in success of the project. Previous experience with custom machinery builds (especially pharmaceutical equipment) is highly desired. Exposure to business-aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing operations of Continuous Manufacturing equipment would be highly desired.

• Mechanical engineering junior or senior from reputable engineering school
• Experience requirements: electro-mechanical design background/previous internships
• Critical Skills: high level mastery of 3D CAD program Solidwor