Research Associate II, Preclinical Manufacturing at Sail Biomedicines (Cambridge, MA)

Sail Biomedicines · Cambridge, MA·3d ago

Job description

About Sail:

Sail Biomedicines is pioneering the integrative design and deployment of fully programmable medicines to transform patient care. Sail’s platform combines first-in-class programmable circular RNA technology (Endless RNA™ or eRNA), and an industry-leading platform of programmable nanoparticles, utilizing natural components, to unlock comprehensive programming of medicines for the first time. By leveraging cutting-edge eRNA and nanoparticle deployment technology, Sail is also making unparalleled use of AI techniques to identify and design fully programmable medicines that are potent, targeted, versatile, and tunable. Sail was founded by Flagship Pioneering.

The Role:

Sail Biomedicines is seeking a Research Associate II to join our Preclinical Manufacturing team, supporting the production of RNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug substances and drug products. As part of the Technical Operations group, you will contribute directly to the development and delivery of preclinical materials for both internal and partnered programs.

Thisis a hands-on, lab-based role requiring strong experimental execution, attention to detail, and cross-functional collaboration. You will play a key role in advancing scalable RNA and LNP manufacturing processes to enable pipeline progress.

Responsibilities:

Support the production of RNA cargo molecules and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations for preclinical studies
Execute hands-on laboratory work involving eRNA synthesis, purification, and LNP encapsulation
Contribute to the development, optimization, and scale-up of high-yield, high-quality RNA/LNP processes
Operate and maintain lab-scale instrumentation, including AKTA (FPLC), TFF systems, PCR, HPLC, capillary electrophoresis, UV-Vis, and light scattering platforms
Perform analytical characterization and quantification of RNA and other nucleic acids
Analyze experimental data and document results in electronic lab notebooks (ELN) and technical reports
Collaborate cross-functionally with research, analytical, and process development teams to support project goals

Required Qualifications:

B.S. with 2+ years of industry experience or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biochemical Engineering, or a related field
Hands-on experience in one or more of the following areas:
RNA/DNA production and purification
LNP formulation and characterization
Chromatography (e.g., AKTA/FPLC, HPLC)
Tangential flow filtration (TFF)
Automated liquid handling systems
Strong understanding of experimental design, data analysis, and technical documentation
Proficiency in core laboratory techniques, including aseptic technique, buffer preparation, and instrument operation/programming
Experience with analytical methods such as capillary electrophoresis, UV-Vis, or light scattering is preferred

Preferred Qualifications:

Detail-oriented with strong organizational and documentation skills
Curious, proactive, and comfortable working both independently and in collaborative environments
Effective communicator with the ability to clearly present technical data and insights

Salary Range: $75,000 - $100,000

Sail Biomedicines is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Sail does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Why work at Sail Biomedicines

Culture: "We work at the frontier of programmable medicines. We operate with purpose and urgency on behalf of people everywhere." The company emphasizes a culture of excellence, shared dedication, and groundbreaking science.
Remote/Hybrid Policy: Roles are listed in Cambridge, MA, suggesting an on-site or hybrid model at the headquarters (140 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141).
Notable Perks (from careers page):
- Generous salary and employee stock option plan
- Competitive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Retirement savings program
- Paid parental, adoption, and caregiver leave
- Long- and short-term disability and life insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Free parking, monthly subway pass, or subsidized commuter rail pass
- Free lunch every week and a kitchen stocked with healthy snacks
Engineering/Science Culture: The company is building a "bioplatform" that integrates AI, data science, and high-throughput experimentation. This is an ideal environment for scientists and engineers who want to work at the intersection of computational biology, machine learning, and RNA therapeutics. The team includes leaders in AI and digital sciences, pharmacology, and nanoparticle delivery.

About Sail Biomedicines

Company Overview

One-liner: Sail Biomedicines is pioneering a fully programmable RNA medicines platform by combining proprietary circular RNA technology (eRNA) with targeted nanoparticles and generative AI to treat autoimmune, metabolic, infectious, and rare diseases.
Entity Type: Private (backed by Flagship Pioneering, formed in October 2023)
Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Founded: October 2023 (formed from the combination of first-in-category technologies within the Flagship Pioneering ecosystem, bringing together more than eight years of combined data)
Founders: The company was formed by Flagship Pioneering; key leadership includes John Mendlein, J.D., Ph.D. (Executive Chairman), Gene Marcantonio, M.D., Ph.D. (Chief Medical Officer), Amy Espeseth (SVP, Platform), and others.

Core Business

Primary industry: Biotechnology / RNA Therapeutics / Drug Discovery
Target customers: B2B / Biopharma partnerships; ultimate customers are patients with chronic and serious diseases (autoimmune, metabolic, infectious, rare)
Mission statement: "We work at the frontier of programmable medicines. We power our bioplatform and product candidates by harnessing evolution and AI. We operate with purpose and urgency on behalf of people everywhere. We aim to generate life-changing impact for the world."

Products & Services

Sail Platform (Endless RNA™ / eRNA™): A novel class of translatable, stable circular RNA. Unlike conventional linear mRNA, eRNA is protected from exonuclease degradation, leading to prolonged protein expression in vivo (days vs. 1-2 days for mRNA). This enables less frequent dosing and opens the door for treating chronic diseases requiring intracellular or transmembrane protein replacement.
Targeted Nanoparticles (TNPs): A modular, clinically validated lipid nanoparticle core conjugated with disease-specific targeting ligands. These TNPs enable precise, extra-hepatic delivery of eRNA cargo to specific cell types, minimizing off-target exposure. The same core can be rapidly adapted with different ligands.
Generative AI & Data Platform: Proprietary AI algorithms integrated with high-throughput prototyping to design both the RNA sequence and the nanoparticle delivery system in an integrated manner, aiming to program medicines to spec.

Market Standing

Valuation / Funding: Not publicly disclosed. As a Flagship Pioneering portfolio company, it benefits from substantial, long-term venture funding typical of Flagship’s "venture creation" model. The company was formed in 2023, so it is in an early-stage, pre-revenue R&D phase.
Key Metric: Total funding is not publicly available; the company is privately held and was formed through an internal combination of assets from Flagship’s ecosystem (including Laronde and Senda Biosciences).
Notable Investors/Partners: Flagship Pioneering is the founding and primary backer. The company's leadership includes experienced executives from the Flagship network.
Growth Signals: The company is actively hiring across multiple senior roles (Senior Director of Delivery, Director of Translational Biology, Associate Director of Clinical Supply Chain, Senior Scientist in Data Science), indicating a ramp-up from platform development toward preclinical and early clinical activities.

Competitive Advantages

Most Complete Toolkit: Sail claims to have the industry's only platform that integrates programmable pharmacology (eRNA) with programmable deployment (TNPs) and AI-driven design, all in one system.
Durable eRNA: The circular RNA technology offers significantly longer protein expression than linear mRNA, a major differentiator for chronic disease applications.
Modular Nanoparticle Platform: The TNP core is clinically validated and can be rapidly re-targeted by swapping ligands without reformulating the core, enabling faster path to IND for multiple indications.
AI-Powered Integration: The company generates proprietary functional data at high throughput to train AI models that design both the RNA and the nanoparticle in an integrated manner, a capability few competitors have.
Flagship Ecosystem Backing: Deep resources, long-term capital, and a history of building category-defining biotechs (Moderna, etc.) provide a strong foundation.

Strategic Focus

Current priorities: Advancing the eRNA-TNP platform toward the clinic; building out the AI/digital sciences team; expanding the pipeline in autoimmune, metabolic, infectious, and rare diseases; demonstrating in vivo proof-of-concept for extra-hepatic targeting with TNPs.
Direction for growth: Moving from platform R&D to IND-enabling studies and first-in-human trials; establishing partnerships with larger pharma for specific indications; scaling the manufacturing process for eRNA and TNPs.

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Job description

Why work at Sail Biomedicines

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