Principal Research Scientist - Tissue Engineering

Vertex Inc. • Boston, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking a highly motivated and innovative scientist to join our Human Assay Technologies department in Boston as a Principal Research Scientist - Tissue Engineering. This lab-based role offers an exciting opportunity to lead tissue engineering and technology innovation by developing novel measurement platforms for complex cell models. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of engineering cutting-edge solutions to drive biological insights from 3D organoid models or organ-on-a-chip technologies, with a focus on advancing drug discovery. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in biological measurement approaches grounded in physics, biophysics, and cell biology, with demonstrated expertise in technology development. Experience in immunology, miniaturized assay formats (384- and 1536-well), and high-throughput screening workflows is highly preferred.

Requirements

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 4-7 years of relevant post-doctoral employment experience, or Master’s Degree (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 7+ years of relevant employment experience, or Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent degree) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or related disciplines and 10+ years of relevant employment experience.
• Strong expertise in biological engineering, including device development and technology innovation.
• Proven experience in high-throughput screening, cell-based assay development, and automation technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and collaborate across disciplines.
• Self-motivated, organized, and innovative, with excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and solve complex engineering and biological challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• A passion for engineering-driven scientific discovery and a commitment to transforming the lives of people with serious diseases, their families, and society.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in robotics, automation, and miniaturized assay development.
• A strong track record of engineering innovation and collaborative research in biological engineering or related fields.
• Familiarity with phenotypic screening and data-driven approaches to drug discovery.
• Experience with integrating novel technologies into drug discovery workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design and engineer innovative technologies to measure complex biological readouts in immunology assay systems, with a focus on precision and scalability.
• Lead the development of next-generation platforms for studying multicellular 3D organoid and organ-on-a-chip models, enabling advanced biological insights and therapeutic discovery.
• Drive technology innovation by identifying and implementing cutting-edge engineering solutions to enhance assay performance and throughput.
• Miniaturize and automate cell-based assays for high-throughput screening in 384- and 1536-well formats, integrating robotics and advanced liquid handling systems.
• Develop and implement innovative phenotypic screening approaches to identify and validate therapeutic targets.
• Collaborate with Data and Computational Sciences to develop and apply data-driven approaches, including AI/ML, for analyzing complex biological datasets.
• Propose and lead external collaborations with academic and industry partners to accelerate the development of novel technologies and methodologies.

Benefits

• At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations.
• From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree