E.R. Squibb & Sons,L.L.C. Posted October 6, 2026

Senior Associate Scientist, Synthesis, RNA Process Sciences

Cambridge, United States Full time
Notify me about similar jobs

E.R. Squibb & Sons,L.L.C. is the source of truth for this posting and owns the application process. We surface normalized context and market comparison you won't find on the original listing.

About this opportunity

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”, a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

Position Summary

The RNA Synthesis Process Sciences role plays a central part in collaborating with research and manufacturing to define early process conditions and scale down process development. By combining deep scientific expertise with enabling technologies and strong cross-functional partnerships, RNA Process Development delivers transformative innovation across the pipeline.

The Senior Associate Scientist provides scientific support for drug substance programs spanning preclinical to early-stage development across circular and linear mRNA modalities. This role encompasses hands-on contributions by driving sound experimental execution and establishing linkages from a research concept to manufacturing implementation. The candidate should be driven by developing and characterizing RNA synthesis processes for improving the yield, quality and robustness.

Key Responsibilities

Apply high throughput and data driven approaches to perform early optimization and characterization of in vitro transcription, circularization and DNase reactions

Support the RNA drug substance synthesis process definition and scale up

Experiment using high throughput/automated or data rich experimental setups

Support experiments to confirm robust process performance across the control space

Collaborate with research teams to enable quicker transitions from drug candidate nomination to clinical manufacturing

Prepare sections of technical reports, and communicate findings internally as appropriate

Participate in tech transfer activities to GMP manufacturing sites for RNA programs

 

Qualifications & Experience

Degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering, Bio/Chemistry, or related field BS with 4+ years’ experience in science related disciplines

MS with 2+ years’ experience in science related disciplines

Knowledge of automated liquid handlers, small scale stir tank reactors, and other novel reactor designs

Working knowledge of statistical design of experiments (DoE) and analysis of multivariate data

Experience with performing process analytics and biophysical characterization techniques such as HPLC, CE, & gel electrophoresis

Hands-on experience programming/operating liquid handling systems, high throughput workflow design, LIMS/ELN systems for sample tracking, and scripting languages for instrument control is a plus

Knowledge of cGMP, ICH, regulatory guidelines and QbD principles as they apply to risk management and clinical manufacturing is a plus

Background in providing technical support for clinical manufacturing processes, including support of process investigations, and implementation of proactive process modifications is a plus

Knowledge of advanced mathematics, nucleic acid chemistry, lipid chemistry, and biology is a plus

Knowledge of establishing and qualifying scale down models and mechanistic models for process characterization is a plus

 

We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials – if this role excites you, but doesn’t perfectly match your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Compensation Overview:

Cambridge - MA - US: $96,010 - $116,339


The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full-time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

Benefits:

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).

U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.

Non-exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.

Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time-off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs. Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to  adastaffingsupport@bms.com . Visit  careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility  to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

For roles based in Los Angeles County only:  If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information:  https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at  https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection .

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at  TAEnablement@bms.com with the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application-related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account.

R1607236 : Senior Associate Scientist, Synthesis, RNA Process Sciences

Job details

Seniority
Senior
Function
Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Cambridge, United States
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 448 comparable Senior Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research roles across 53 biopharma companies.

448Comparable roles tracked
406Currently active
53Companies hiring similar roles
18Countries represented

Salary context

225 of 448 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function and a matching or adjacent seniority level -- not necessarily the same therapeutic area or country.

This roleSubject Not listed on this posting
Lowest disclosed · Senior Animal Behaviorist - Primate · Labcorp $70,000/yr – $80,000/yr
Highest disclosed · Toxicology Senior Research Fellow · Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc (US) $232,000/yr – $348,000/yr
Peer group range $75,000 – $290,000 (median $165,000)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 448 comparable roles

United States338
China15
India14
United Kingdom14
Belgium10
Switzerland10

+ 12 more countries

Seniority mix

448 of 448 peers have a known seniority level

Senior234
Principal171
Associate Director43

Therapeutic area mix

49 of 448 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Immunology17
Oncology14
Neuroscience13
Cardiovascular / CVRM3
Gastroenterology1
Dermatology & Aesthetics1

Similar opportunities

The closest matches from our peer group, ranked by how similar they are, not how well you'd qualify for them -- treat this as market context, not a guaranteed shortlist; a weak match is labeled as one below.

60%similar
Merck Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Groton, United States Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Groton, United States Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie South San Francisco, CA Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country
60%similar
AbbVie North Chicago, IL Senior
Same function Same seniority Same country

Notify me about similar jobs

Get an email when we spot other openings like this one – same job function, comparable seniority, roles you'd actually want to see.

Or follow a whole field: get every new Drug Discovery & Preclinical Research job in the United States, and choose locations and companies.

How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

60%
Sr. Dir, Biology-Discovery
Merck · Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Senior Scientist I, Cell Line Development
AbbVie · South San Francisco, CA · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Sr Scientist, Drug Metabolism
Gilead Sciences, Inc. · Foster City, United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
60%
Sr Scientist, Inflammation Biomarkers and Translational Research
Gilead Sciences, Inc. · Foster City, United States · Senior
Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.