Principal Engineer Process Engineering and Innovation Lead- Vaccines

Job Title: Principal Engineer Process Engineering and Innovation Lead- Vaccines

Location: Waltham, MA

About the Job

Our mRNA Ambition

With its long-standing expertise in developing and commercializing vaccines and other innovative medicines on a global scale, Sanofi has created a Center of Excellence (CoE) to accelerate innovation in the mRNA space.

At Sanofi, we believe that innovative process engineering and technology integration can transform how we develop and manufacture mRNA therapies. To achieve this vision, we need to establish a robust technological foundation that bridges conceptual innovation with practical manufacturability, ensuring our processes are both cutting-edge and scalable.

This role combines process engineering expertise with innovation capabilities to accelerate mRNA process development and manufacturing outcomes. The position will drive the evaluation and integration of new technologies while ensuring they meet the requirements for scale-up and commercial manufacturing.

A key mission of the Process Engineering and Innovation Lead is to serve as a bridge between emerging technologies and practical implementation, ensuring that the mRNA CoE remains at the forefront of manufacturing innovation.

We are an innovative global healthcare company that helps the world stay ahead of infectious diseases by delivering more than 500 million vaccine doses a year. Across different countries, our talented teams are exploring new technologies to protect people and promote healthy communities. We chase the miracles of science every single day, pursuing progress to make a real impact on millions of patients around the world.

Main Responsibilities

Technology Evaluation and Integration

• Identify, evaluate, and test emerging technologies that could enhance mRNA process development and manufacturing

• Lead proof-of-concept studies to validate new technologies in a laboratory setting

• Develop implementation strategies for promising technologies, including risk assessments and resource planning

• Create and maintain a technology roadmap aligned with the mRNA platform strategy

• Collaborate with external technology providers and academic partners to stay current with industry innovations

Process Intensification

• Identify opportunities to improve process efficiency, yield, and quality through innovative approaches

• Lead initiatives to reduce process steps, minimize waste, and increase throughput

• Develop and implement continuous processing strategies where applicable

• Collaborate with Process Development teams to integrate intensification strategies into existing processes

• Quantify and document the impact of process intensification efforts on key performance metrics and cost of goods

Manufacturability and Scale-up

• Ensure new technologies and process innovations are compatible with scale-up requirements and aligned with commercial assets capabilities and timelines

• Develop scale-up models and strategies for transitioning from laboratory to clinical and commercial manufacturing

• Collaborate with Manufacturing and Quality teams to ensure GMP compliance of new technologies

• Lead technology transfer activities for innovative processes

• Identify and mitigate scale-up risks early in the development process

Next-Generation Platform Development 

• Lead the technical development of next-generation mRNA technology platforms

• Establish KPIs and metrics to track platform performance and improvements

• Coordinate cross-functional efforts to integrate platform innovations