Vertex Spring 2026 Co-op, Biopharmaceutical Sciences Small Molecule

Job Description

Kickstart Your Career at Vertex!
Are you ready to make a real impact? At Vertex, our mission is to tackle serious diseases and to change lives, for the better, for the future. Our aim is to give you the skills, insights, and career guidance to be an important part of that future; to turn your potential into progression. As a Vertex intern or co-op, you'll work on meaningful projects, collaborate with talented teams, and learn from industry leaders. We're passionate about innovation, inclusion, and supporting your growth-inside and outside the lab.

Why Vertex?

• Real Projects: You'll work on assignments that make a real impact, not just busy work.
• Mentorship & Networking: Connect with leaders and peers who want to see you succeed through professional networks, connections, and collaborations that will shape your longer-term career.
• Flexible & Supportive: We offer flexible work options with Flex @ Vertex and prioritize your wellbeing.
• Inclusive Culture: Collaboration and inclusion are embedded in everything we do.
• Career Launchpad: Build skills, explore career paths, and get guidance for your future career.
  

Ready to apply? Submit your application and let's turn possibilities into reality!

Your Impact
The Vertex Biopharmaceutical Sciences Small Molecule Co-Op program is a 6-month experiential training program for students currently working towards undergraduate or advanced degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or other related fields. If you are passionate, collaborative, and growth-minded, a co-op at Vertex will help you gain meaningful experience in our biopharmaceutical sciences functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career.

The application deadline for this co-op is October 31st. Please note that Vertex reviews applications on a rolling basis and reserves the right to close this job posting prior to the listed deadline. Applicants can expect to receive an update about their application before or shortly after the application deadline.

Important Notice Regarding Internship and Co-op Inquiries
At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we are committed to providing a fair and structured recruitment process for all students interested in internship and co-op opportunities. To ensure consistency and equity, all student applications must go through our Early Talent Acquisition Team.

Due to the high volume of interest, we are unable to respond to individual solicitation. Direct solicitation to Vertex employees- including senior leaders via email will result in removal from the recruiting process.

We appreciate your enthusiasm and interest in Vertex. To be considered for internship or co-op roles, please apply directly through our official application channels. (https://www.vrtx.com/careers/career-growth-and-opportunities/co-ops/)

Thank you for respecting our process and helping us maintain a fair experience for all candidates.

What you will be doing:

Biopharm Sciences - Small Molecule is responsible for developing scalable processes to deliver drug substance and drug product with acceptable purity, bioavailability and stability to enable pre-clinical & clinical evaluation, and commercialization of small molecule drug candidates. Selected applicants will work on projects that focus on advancing our capabilities in the manufacturing, measurement, modeling, and operations related to the development of pharmaceutical products, with specific focal areas varying within each part of the organization. Projects will offer students mentoring relationships with industrial experts, hands-on experience in laboratory and manufacturing environments, and the opportunity to gain an understanding of core aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing and product development.

Analytical Development (AD)

Analytical Development (AD) creates the investigational techniques critical to interrogating the physical and chemical characteristics of our medicines which are central to their quality, safety, and performance. AD develops and validates core analytical tests which leverage expertise rooted in various spectroscopic, chromatographic, and sold state characterization techniques. AD scientists and engineers work collaboratively with team members across disciplines to monitor our manufacturing processes, deepen our understanding of core properties that impact product performance and design, and safeguard the quality of our medicines for our patients. This work impacts every molecule in our pipeline from the earliest phases of development through the launch of our commercial products and processes.

Process Chemistry (PC)

Process Chemistry (PC) discovers, identifies, develops, and improves chemical processes which are safe, sustainable, (efficient, cost effective, and robust) and stage appropriate, delivering drug substance for clinical, safety assessment studies, and for development with an acceptable purity profile. The department utilizes multiple novel and advanced technologies in the course of its work, with particular emphasis in areas such as flow chemistry, catalysis, enzymatic reactions, and molecular-scale modeling of complex chemical phenomena. PC is responsible for the manufacture of isotopically labeled compounds for specialized clinical and pre-clinical studies, as well as the development of robust, commercial-ready processes suited to the manufacture of marketed products. PC works very closely with our Medicinal Chemistry colleagues for rapid entry into development and is responsible for the filing information throughout development including initial marketing application filings.

Formulation Development (FD)

Formulation development (FD) at Vertex spans activities from the discovery to the commercial interface. Preformulation is the group within FD that is focused on the initial characterization of candidate molecules/assets and supports all the pharmacology and preclinical PK and safety studies. Additionally, FD leads the design of Vertex products that are delivered to patients, as well as the manufacturing processes required to make them. This work not only encompasses the development of the solid oral dosage forms (e.g. tablets) used as the drug product for a

great number of ongoing clinical programs, but also includes focal areas in biologics, and alternative (non-oral) routes of administration such as pulmonary, parenteral and ocular delivery. The technical objectives of the department are diverse and frequently cross-functional, requiring the synthesis of concepts from an array of disciplines including, among other things, powder technology, multiphase particle and granule manufacturing techniques, robust statistical analysis, pharmacology, physical chemistry, and principled approaches to process scale-up. A leader in the implementation of continuous manufacturing processes for pharmaceutical drug products, FD at Vertex is also advancing our scientific understanding of core components of this novel approach to production.

Engineering and Material Science (EMS)

The Engineering and Material Science (EMS) team is a multi-disciplinary group focused on the understanding of core engineering science issues that surround drug substance and drug product scale-up and the interplay of material structures, powder properties, formulation design decisions, and associated drug substance and product manufacturing processes. EMS team members also help elucidate the solid form landscape and explore the potential use of novel materials for development. Crystallization, materials characterization, powder mechanics, process modeling, and scale-down approaches represent core capabilities of the group, who frequently partner with project teams and colleagues in FD, PC, and other parts of the organization to address various technical challenges.

CMC Project Management & Strategic Operations

The CMC Project Management team is responsible for leading generation of integrated cross-functional CMC development plans to deliver programs from preclinical development to product registration, ensuring alignment across CMC stakeholder functions. The CMC project manager facilitates team discussions to develop and execute upon CMC timelines, budgets, and serves as a primary point of contact to the Pharm Sci Leadership Team and other stakeholder functions such as GMP quality, Regulatory, Program & Portfolio Management, Finance, Commercial Manufacturing & Supply Chain and others. The Strategic Operations team is responsible to lead and manage high-priority initiatives that span multiple Pharm Sci functions, as well as defining and developing high-impact communications and presentations for governance meetings and Global Pharm Sci communications.

Vertex Manufacturing Center (VMC)

The VMC is located about 1/2 mile from the Fan Pier Boston headquarters. Its primary mission is to serve as a strategic catalyst to accelerate the Vertex pipeline in order to rapidly bring transformative new small molecule therapies to patients through clinical development to commercialization. In order to meet this mission, the site has the facilities and capability to produce drug substance in 100g through 10kg scale from pre-clinical through clinical Phase 2 development. The VMC also has spray-drying and a full complement of small molecule, solid oral dosage drug product manufacturing capabilities from 1 kg through 1000 kg scale through all phases of clinical development through product launch, process validation, and commercialization. In addition to its batch capabilities, the VMC also houses the Development and Launch Rig (DLR), the industry's first fully automated continuous tableting system approved for manufacture of commercial products for global distribution. To complement these manufacturing capabilities, the VMC also includes the Release and Stability Laboratory that provides method validation and stability testing for development programs as well as final product release for clinical and commercial products manufactured at the VMC. In addition to the manufacturing capabilities and personnel, the site contains a temperature and humidity controlled GMP warehouse as well as fully-staffed Manufacturing Technical Services, Validation, Facility Operations, Engineering, and Quality Assurance functions.

What you will need to succeed:

• Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or another related field
• Legal authorization to work in the United States, now and in the future. Please note that Vertex does not provide sponsorship for internships or entry level roles within this part of the organization.
• You must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before June 2026
• You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from January - June 2026
  

Program Details:

• Full-time, paid co-op $20.00 - 35.00 USD/hour
• Program Dates: January - June 2026
• Application Deadline: October 31st, 2025

At Vertex, we believe that when you feel your best, you can perform at your best. That's why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you.

* Free 24/7 onsite gym access and free access to group exercise classes

* Subsidized commuter benefits- transit and parking

* Provided meals-free breakfast daily!

* Career development opportunities and events, including C Suite engagement

* Social events-both intern-only and company-wide

* Location-specific perks and extras!

* Recognition of National Intern Day

Our Ways of Working
Flex Designation: Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as:

1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select

2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Equal Opportunities
Vertex 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, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Accessibility & 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. Vertex 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 make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.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, Vertex is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.

This job posting is for a temporary role with a third-party agency partner that provides services to Vertex. The individual selected for this role will be offered the role as an employee of that third-party agency; compensation, medical benefits, fringe benefits and other terms and conditions of employment shall be presented by the third-party agency upon offer.

Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex 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, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

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 make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com