Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering
- Pay
- $170,000 – $200,000 per year
- Location
- South San Francisco
- Listed
- 31 days ago
Position
NewLimit is seeking a Principal/Senior Scientist to drive our mRNA process development and engineering efforts. As our mRNA Drug Substance Lead, you'll own mRNA process development from research-scale production through external GMP manufacturing. This is a hands-on, partially lab-based role requiring deep expertise in optimizing IVT and purification workflows. You'll be reporting directly to our Sr Director of Tech Ops and building out the mRNA Process Sciences team as our pipeline grows.
Requirements
- PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience (5+ years).
- Hands-on experience optimizing IVT reactions and familiarity with the specific challenges of scaling mRNA production (>10 mL scale).
- Hands-on experience optimizing column chromatography purification steps (i.e., oligo-dT) on AKTA systems.
- Proficient in designing and executing UFDF/TFF steps.
- Experience managing external CDMOs, through process development and GMP manufacturing.
- Ability to perform and interpret basic mRNA analytical assays (Fragment Analyzer/TapeStation, restriction-digest + AGE, IP-RP-HPLC).
- Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to structure and interpret quantitative process data to guide decisions.
- Strong written communication skills and experience writing detailed technical reports and standardized protocols.
Nice to have
- SME-level understanding of mRNA sequence design and manufacturability assessments.
- Experience with complex plasmid design, bacterial fermentation scale-up, and downstream purification for DNA template generation.
- Experience authoring regulatory submissions (IMPD-Q).
- Experience managing or mentoring RAs/scientists, with interest in growing into a people-management role over time.
Benefits
NewLimit offers generous benefits to ensure our team can focus on our mission:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid parental leave
- Industry-leading paid time off (PTO) - 20 days/year for all employees + holidays
- Meals and snacks on-site
Salary Range
$170,000 to $200,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. NewLimit offers a competitive benefits package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, and 20 days of PTO.
About NewLimit
NewLimit is a biotechnology company working to radically extend human healthspan. We're developing medicines to treat age-related diseases by reprogramming the epigenome, a new therapeutic mechanism to restore regenerative potential in aged and diseased cells. We leverage functional genomics, pooled perturbation screening, and machine learning models to unravel the biology of epigenetic aging and disease using experiments of unprecedented scale.
As a member of our team, you will
- Establish and lead the mRNA process development capabilities at NewLimit, focused on optimizing IVT yield and downstream purification recovery for our preclinical programs.
- Manage the tech transfer and scale up activities at external CDMOs for GLP and GMP mRNA production.
- Partner with our analytical team to formalize internal drug substance analytical methods.
- Lead the mRNA platform production team, establishing a workflow for supplying research-grade mRNA for in vivo and in vitro studies.
- Stay current on emerging mRNA design and manufacturing techniques, proactively bringing new approaches to NewLimit.
- Build the mRNA Process Sciences team within Technical Operations.
From NewLimit's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering role at NewLimit?
The Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering posting at NewLimit states compensation of $170,000 – $200,000 per year. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on NewLimit's official career site.
Where is the Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering job at NewLimit located?
This Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering position at NewLimit is located in South San Francisco. Always check NewLimit's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
How do I apply for the Principal/Senior Scientist, mRNA Engineering position at NewLimit?
This listing links directly to NewLimit's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on NewLimit's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.