Senior Scientist, LNP Formulation and Nonviral Delivery

Role details

Scribe Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company engineering CRISPR-based technologies into purpose-built in vivo genetic medicines designed to become standard of care treatments for patients suffering from highly prevalent diseases, starting with cardiometabolic disease. Leveraging its CRISPR by Design™ approach and nature’s blueprint for improved cardiovascular health, Scribe’s initial programs focus on addressing the key drivers of ASCVD such as elevated LDL-C, lipoprotein(a), and triglycerides.

The company’s lead candidate, STX-1150, is a novel liver-targeted therapy designed to epigenetically silence the PCSK9 gene and reduce LDL-C levels without inducing permanent DNA changes. To broaden and accelerate the impact of its engineered CRISPR technologies for patients, Scribe has formed strategic collaborations with world-leading pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi and Eli Lilly. Co-founded by Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and backed by leading life sciences investors, Scribe is advancing scalable, transformative, and preventative genetic medicines with the goal of improving outcomes and democratizing access to the protective effects of beneficial human genetics.

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Position Summary

We are seeking a highly creative, self-motivated Senior Scientist to provide hands-on technical leadership for research-scale nonviral delivery and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation for genome-editing therapeutics. This role offers the opportunity to build next-generation delivery systems for engineered CRISPR therapeutics and directly influence how genome-editing medicines are designed, selected, and advanced toward the clinic. The successful candidate will own formulation workflows, lipid sourcing and evaluation, and rigorous datasets that guide formulation selection for Scribe’s preclinical and clinical-stage programs.

The ideal candidate is an experienced LNP formulation scientist with demonstrated success designing, formulating, characterizing, and benchmarking nucleic-acid delivery systems. They should combine deep formulation science with strong experimental execution, enjoy hands-on laboratory work, and be able to translate physicochemical and biological data into clear development recommendations. Experience packaging genome-editing cargos, including mRNA and guide RNA, is especially relevant.

For Principal Scientist consideration, candidates should show evidence of broad technical leadership, ownership of cross-functional programs, and influence on candidate-selection or development decisions.

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Competencies

• LNP Formulation & Optimization
• Lipid & Delivery Science
• Physicochemical Characterization
• Biological Translation
• Experimental Design & Data Analysis
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Scientific Communication
• Responsibility- Takes Ownership for Programs
• Scientific Rigor
• Lab Safety

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Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Scribe’s hands-on technical lead for nonviral delivery, owning the design, execution, optimization, and characterization of research-scale LNP formulations for genome-editing payloads, including mRNA and guide RNA.
• Build and continuously improve robust formulation and analytical workflows, including lipid selection, composition and ratio optimization, mixing conditions, cargo loading, purification, buffer exchange, storage, stability assessment, and fit-for-purpose characterization.
• Use rigorous experimental design to generate reproducible, decision-ready datasets and troubleshoot issues with scientific independence and urgency.
• Characterize key formulation attributes, including particle size, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, payload integrity, lipid composition, potency, stability, and other relevant physicochemical or functional readouts.
• Lead cross-functional studies with in vitro, in vivo, analytical, genome-editing, and program teams to connect LNP attributes with cell-based activity, biodistribution, tolerability, and in vivo editing outcomes.
• Translate complex formulation, analytical, and biological datasets into clear recommendations for formulation advancement, candidate selection, and preclinical development.
• Benchmark emerging LNP and nonviral delivery technologies, identify high-impact technical risks and opportunities, and influence platform and program strategy through deep scientific expertise.
• Maintain complete experimental records, communicate conclusions clearly to project teams, and operate as both a scientific leader and a high-performing individual contributor in the laboratory.
• Mentor junior scientists where appropriate and partner with Drug Product and CMC teams on scale-up, control strategy, technology transfer, and development readiness as programs advance.

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Requirements

Knowledge Requirements (Background/Skills/Experience)

• PhD in pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field, with at least 5 years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience; or an equivalent combination of advanced education and experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in developing and optimizing novel LNP formulations for nucleic acid delivery.
• Strong knowledge of ionizable and helper lipids, lipid structure–function relationships, formulation composition, and LNP manufacturing principles.
• Experience with research-scale formulation technologies, such as microfluidic or impingement mixing, with purification and buffer-exchange workflows.
• Experience evaluating LNPs at both physicochemical and biological levels, including particle size and PDI, encapsulation efficiency, payload integrity, stability, cell-based potency, biodistribution, tolerability, and

*in vivo* activity.

• Experience executing Analytical techniques like LC-UV, LC-CAD, DLS, SEC-MALS, Osmolality, pH, fluorescence, UV-vis, LC-MS-MS, gel electrophoresis.
• Ability to design rigorous experiments, analyze multidimensional datasets, troubleshoot complex problems, and convert results into clear program decisions.
• Demonstrated success working productively across functions in a fast-paced setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a strong commitment to data quality, documentation, reproducibility, and laboratory safety.
• Proven record of scientific impact demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, patents, platform advances, or development of novel LNP formulations.
• Passion for advancing one-time, curative genetic medicines to benefit patients.

Preferred Requirements

• Direct experience packaging and delivering genome editors, including mRNA and guide RNA, or other multi-component nucleic acid payloads.
• Experience advancing LNPs from discovery through candidate selection and preclinical development, with awareness of scale-up, technology transfer, CMC, and regulatory expectations.
• Experience with high-throughput formulation screening, design of experiments, automation, and statistical or visualization tools.
• Knowledge of tissue-targeted or extrahepatic delivery strategies, including targeted lipids or ligands.
• Experience with Chromeleon, OpenLab, and Benchling ELN a plus.

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Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a laboratory environment and use standard formulation, analytical, and biological research equipment while following applicable safety procedures.
• Ability to remain stationary or standing for extended periods and perform repetitive laboratory tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Ability to lift and move laboratory supplies weighing up to 15 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Benefits & Compensation

Salary and total compensation will be commensurate with experience and will include a competitive benefits package. Scribe provides an intellectually stimulating, collegial, and fast-paced environment. If you are ready to help engineer the future of therapeutics, we are excited to hear from you. Visit us at www.scribetx.com.

• Health:

Medical (HMO, PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental, Vision, Life, Transit, FSA, HSA

• Equity:

Meaningful equity that allows you to share in the long-term success of the platform.

• Perks:

Wellness stipend, Learning and development opportunities, Cell stipend, home office set up stipend.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.