Job title: Research Strategy Lead, Bacterial Science & Antigen Design - Vaccines

About the Job

Join the team protecting half a billion lives every year with next-gen science, mRNA innovation, and AI-driven breakthroughs. In Vaccines, you’ll help advance prevention on a global scale and shape the future of immunization.

As the Research Strategy Lead, Bacterial Science & Antigen Design you will oversee and drive antigen design projects in the space of bacterial vaccine research and development, and help shape how we deliver innovative, life-changing treatments to millions. Ready to get started?

Join the Global Antigen Design (GAD) team to transform and enable a platform of vaccines for the prevention of diseases worldwide. In GAD/Vaccines, you’ll help drive meaningful outcomes in respiratory and chronic diseases, for both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines – with the scale and urgency patients deserve.

About Sanofi:

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead scientific strategy and innovation in bacterial antigen discovery and design, contributing to GAD’s mission and helping to shape the long-term strategy and scientific roadmap for the function

• Apply deep knowledge of bacterial pathogenesis, reverse vaccinology, OMICs, host-pathogen interactions, and immune evasion mechanisms to identify and validate novel vaccine targets

• Integrate modern protein science approaches—including structural biology, protein engineering, and biophysics—to design optimized antigens with enhanced immunogenicity and stability

• Collaborate closely with internal GAD platforms (virology, computational biology, protein biochemistry and biophysics, monoclonal antibodies, structural biology, and transversal antigen design) to drive integrated research programs

• Partner with internal global immunology teams to align antigen design with immunological insights and translational goals

• Engage with the internal development and mRNA organizations to ensure seamless transition of antigens from discovery to preclinical and clinical development

• Contribute to scientific leadership through mentorship, strategic input, and representation of bacterial science within and beyond GAD

• Stay abreast of emerging scientific trends and technologies in bacteriology, structural vaccinology, and protein design, and apply them to advance the pipeline

About You

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Structural Biology, Protein Biochemistry, Immunology or a related field

• Minimum of 10 years post PhD relevant experience in an academic or biopharmaceutical setting

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated expertise in bacterial pathogenesis and vaccine antigen discovery and design

• Background in or advanced familiarity with protein science, preferably with focus on structural biology (e.g., X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM) and its application to rational antigen design

• Proven track record of scientific innovation and leadership in cross-functional research environments

• Comfortable working in complex, matrixed environments with global counterparts

• Strong strategic, analytical, and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Excellent communication, tact, diplomacy, negotiation, collaboration, and strategic thinking skills

Why Choose Us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Pursue progress, discover extraordinary

Better is out there. Better medications, better outcomes, better science. But progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. So, let’s be those people.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only

Sanofi Inc. and its U.S. affiliates are Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employers committed to a culturally inclusive and diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; natural or protective hairstyles; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.

North America Applicants Only

The salary range for this position is:

All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs. Additional benefits information can be found through the LINK.