Exhibit 10.18

December 13, 2019

Mr. David Novack

Re: Promotion to President and Chief Operating Officer

Dear David:

On behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Dynavax Technologies Corporation (the “Company”), I am pleased to confirm the terms of your appointment to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective December 16, 2019, on the terms set forth in this letter agreement (the “Agreement”).

In your position as President & COO of the Company, you will report to Ryan Spencer, Chief Executive Officer. You will have those duties and responsibilities as customary for a President & COO and as may be directed by your direct Manager. You will be based in the Company’s corporate headquarters in Emeryville, California, and your position will entail business travel. During your employment with the Company, you will devote your full-time best efforts to the business of the Company.

Effective December 16, 2019, your annual base salary will be $495,000, less standard payroll deductions and tax withholdings.Youwillbepaidyourbasesalaryonasemi-monthlybasis,ontheCompany’snormalpayrollschedule.You will continue your eligibility to participate in the Company’s standard employee benefits (pursuant to the terms and conditions of the benefit plans and applicablepolicies).

TheBoardwillreviewyourbasesalaryforpotentialmodificationonanannualbasis,startingin2021,providedthat,the Board may not decrease your base salary except proportionately in connection with an across-the-board decrease of base salaries applicable to all senior executives of theCompany.

Your annual incentive bonus target for the 2020 plan year will be 55 percent of your base salary, as determined within the discretion of the Board. The incentive bonus will be based upon performance of the Company within the discretion oftheBoard.Followingthecloseofeachcalendaryear,theBoardwilldeterminewhetheryouhaveearnedanincentive bonus,andtheamountofanyincentivebonus.Generally,incentivebonusesarepaidinthefirstquarterofthefollowing year. You must be an employee in good standing on the bonus payment date to be eligible to receive a bonus. Your annual incentive bonus is notguaranteed.

The Company will grant you a stock option under the Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) to purchase200,000sharesoftheCommonStockoftheCompany,withanexercisepriceequaltothefairmarketvalueof the Common Stock on the date of grant. This stock option is subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the applicableawardagreementandtheEquityPlan.Yourstockoptiongrantof200,000sharesoftheCommonStockofthe Company will vest as follows: one-third (1/3) % of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/36 of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest on the last day of each month, providedthatvestingshallceaseuponterminationofyourcontinuousservicetotheCompany.Inadditiontothevesting schedulesdiscussedabove,theOptionswillbesubjecttoacceleratedvestingundercertaincircumstancesaswillbe

2100 Powell Street, Suite 900, Emeryville, California 94608

Phone:510-848-5100Toll-Free:877-848-5100Fax:510-848-1327www.dynavax.com

provided in the Amended Management Continuity and Severance Agreement (“MCSA”), further referenced below,

between you and the Company.

You will be expected to continue to abide by Company rules and regulations, as well as the Dynavax Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and the Company’s standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, which prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of the Company's proprietary information.

Your employment relationship with the Company is at-will. Accordingly, you may terminate your employment with the CompanyatanytimeandforanyreasonwhatsoeversimplybynotifyingtheCompany;andtheCompanymayterminate your employment at any time with or without cause or priornotice.

By signing this letter, you represent that you are able to perform your job duties within these guidelines.

Youwillbeeligibleforcertainseverancebenefitsinconnectionwiththeterminationofyouremploymentundercertain circumstances, as will be set forth in theMCSA.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and signatures transmitted by PDF file shall be equivalent to original signatures.

We are delighted to appoint you to this position. The Board looks forward to a productive and enjoyable work relationship.

Sincerely,

/s/ Peggy Phillips                                                             

Peggy Phillips

Director and Chair of the Compensation Committee

Reviewed, Understood, and Accepted:

/s/ David Novack                                                              

DavidNovackDate: December 13,2019