Principal Scientist, LNP Process Development & MS&T

About the role

Working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department—from optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy. This role plays a central role in enabling the success of batches in clinical development across multiple products, connecting with both the larger LNP Process Development team and research to develop clinical-scale batches that are representative across scales and sites.

The Principal Scientist is a scientific leader responsible for driving clinical manufacturing strategy, influencing cross-functional decisions, and delivering high-impact outcomes across an increasingly diverse portfolio. This role is primarily focused on hands-on scientific contribution by driving sound experimental execution and establishing the linkage from small-scale process to manufacturing implementation at scale in a GMP environment.

Responsibilities

• Scientific Leadership
  • Lead the tech transfer from nonclinical production and development to a clinical production site, interfacing with site leadership to ensure clinical production success.
  • Provide strategic oversight of process development and manufacturability, while contributing hands-on scientific input where needed to resolve critical technical challenges.
  • Apply high-throughput data-driven approaches to assess and mitigate risks, defining mitigation strategies and making critical scientific recommendations at key program milestones.
  • Represent bulk drug product development strategies in cross-functional CMC teams, ensuring alignment across research, analytical development, engineering, regulatory affairs, and supply chain.
• People Leadership & Talent Development
  • Set clear priorities and objectives for LNP PD MSAT in alignment with portfolio goals and LNP PD’s broader organizational strategy.
  • Mentor and develop scientists across LNP PD MSAT, contributing to a culture of scientific excellence and continuous learning.
  • Foster an inclusive, high-performance team environment built on psychological safety, accountability, and collaboration.
• Innovation & Organizational Contribution
  • Propose and lead departmental initiatives that improve scientific workflows, sustainability practices, and operational efficiency.
  • Build and maintain collaborative relationships with external academic institutions and industry partners to accelerate scientific advancement.
  • Represent capabilities at internal reviews, scientific conferences, and through peer-reviewed publications.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Serve as a key scientific voice in cross-functional CMC teams and broader enterprise forums.
  • Partner with functional areas—including research, analytical development, engineering, and drug substance development.
  • Collaborate with organization leadership to drive strategic alignment across the portfolio.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Bio/Chemical Engineering, Bio/Chemistry, or related field.
• MS with 8+ years’ or PhD with 3+ years’ experience in science-related disciplines.
• Expertise with lipid nanoparticle formation, conjugation reactions, and tangential flow filtration unit operations.
• Working knowledge of statistical design of experiments (DoE) and analysis of multivariate data.
• Experience with performing and interpreting process analytics and biophysical characterization techniques such as DLS and Encapsulation Efficiency.
• Experience working with both internal and external clinical manufacturing sites.
• Knowledge of cGMP, ICH, regulatory guidelines, and QbD principles as they apply to risk management and clinical manufacturing.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to lead complex projects independently and influence decisions across matrixed teams and governance forums.
• Prior experience managing, mentoring, or developing scientists in an industrial setting.
• Demonstrated background working in a GMP environment and supporting change controls, developing clinical strategies, and resolving deviations in conjunction with Quality teams.
• 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.
• May require international travel.

Pay

The starting compensation range for this full-time role in Cambridge, MA is $153,660 - $186,203. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
• Work-life Benefits:
  • Paid Time Off:
    • US Exempt Employees: Flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval) and 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico, or Rayzebio employees).
    • Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico, and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays.
  • Based on eligibility, additional time off may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs, and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

All global employees (full and part-time) who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.

Schedule

BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This role is site-by-design, which may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at the assigned facility. Onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive company culture. May require international travel.