The Role
Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.
As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.
Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.
Moderna is solidifying its presence in Norwood, a key site in our U.S. manufacturing network where science, technology, and operations converge. This campus plays a critical role in our end-to-end ecosystem, enabling us to deliver mRNA medicines to the world. At Norwood, we integrate advanced manufacturing, automation, and analytical capabilities to support the clinical and commercial production of our innovative portfolio. We are seeking professionals ready to drive impact at scale, helping shape the future of Moderna’s manufacturing and product operations.
Moderna is seeking an accomplished and innovative Shipping Validation Engineer to join the Drug Product Development (DPD) team in Norwood. This individual contributor role will provide end-to-end technical leadership and strategic direction for temperature-controlled (cold chain) shipping system validation across clinical and commercial supply chains. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity and regulatory compliance of our mRNA medicines throughout global distribution by defining robust shipping strategies, leading qualification studies, and influencing cross-functional partners to deliver high-quality outcomes.
This role sits at the interface of science, engineering, and global logistics—offering a unique opportunity to work with cutting-edge platforms and to shape the future of Moderna’s pharmaceutical distribution processes. You’ll partner closely with Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Logistics Engineering, ensuring cold chain solutions are risk-based, regulatory-aligned, and support commercial scalability from early development through product launch. The position will also offer significant exposure to Generative AI opportunities for data analysis, modeling, and smart documentation.
Here’s What You’ll Do
Your key responsibilities will be:
Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for shipping validation within Drug Product Development.
Define and implement robust, risk-based validation strategies across temperature-controlled distribution systems.
Design, qualify, and maintain global shipping systems supporting clinical and commercial product movement.
Execute distribution and packaging studies including temperature mapping, ISO/ASTM testing, and thermal modeling.
Lead lane qualification and lifecycle management activities across validated transport solutions.
Drive strategic decision-making through risk assessments, data analysis, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
Your responsibilities will also include:
Author, review, and approve technical documents including validation master plans, protocols, and SOPs.
Support internal and external audits, including health authority inspections and responses.
Lead investigations, CAPAs, and change controls related to shipping systems and temperature excursions.
Collaborate with Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Engineering to align and execute shipping strategies for late-stage and commercial programs.
Contribute to global regulatory submissions, including INDs, BLAs, and MAAs, by authoring distribution-related sections.
Provide mentorship to junior engineers in validation strategy, technical documentation, and compliance standards.
Advance platform-level initiatives by developing scalable validation approaches and contributing to organizational best practices.
The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:
“We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”
You will own the technical space of shipping validation at Moderna—leading from the front, driving decisions, and delivering innovative, regulatory-compliant solutions that protect product quality across every shipment, every lane, and every region.
“We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”
You’ll be encouraged to leverage data science and Generative AI tools for temperature modeling, data visualization, and digital validation documentation, pushing the boundaries of how cold chain validation is executed in a digital-first biotech environment.
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table:
Degree in Chemical/Mechanical/Packaging/Biomedical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related discipline
Minimum of 4 years (PhD), 8 years (MS), 10 years (BS) industry experience in biopharmaceutical development, focused on shipping validation.
Experience working closely with external CDMOs and service providers.
Experience in shipping of parenteral Drug Products and commercialization of a range of relevant drug product images such as pre-filled syringes, injection devices and vials
Knowledge and understanding of product/packaging interaction, barrier properties, stability, global pharmaceutical shipping regulations, and distribution testing.
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in a highly dynamic, fast-paced, matrixed environment with rapidly evolving priorities.
Ability to travel up to 20%.
This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work.
Pay & Benefits
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future
Location-specific perks and extras
The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.
About Moderna
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Our Working Model
As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.
Equal Opportunities
Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com.
Export Control Notice
This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.
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