Job Description
| Department: Pilot Lab | Positions Supervised: None |
| FLSA Status: Exempt | Reports to: Pilot Plant Manager |
GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB The Senior Fermentation Scientist will work as part of an interdisciplinary team focused on the implementation and improvement of CSL USA's culture production processes through media, fermentation, and downstream process development. Principal duties will include setup and operation of bioreactors, optimization of centrifugation, cryopreservation and freeze-drying, and process scale up. In addition, the Senior Fermentation Scientist will assume a lead role in all fermentation services activities including but not limited to, scheduling fermentations, communicating results, and proposing next steps in accordance with customer requests. This position is a key participant and must contribute in a fast paced, collaborative, and efficient team.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The following statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the major functions of this position and are not intended to be a detailed description of all the work/functions that may be required. Other duties may be assigned. - Follows operating discipline policies, principles, procedures, standards, and practices to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of assigned areas.
- Independently designs fermentation experiments to maximize strain yields, cell-count, and stability.
- Collaborate with pilot plant leaders in Italy and Australia to ensure global process consistency and continuous improvement.
- Effectively collaborates with QA/QC, Regulatory, Production and Sales Teams to deliver timelines, results, and future development steps for fermentation service projects.
- Serve as a technical liaison for customer-driven projects—managing project timelines, technical requirements, cost parameters, and customer expectations.
- Responsible for the setup, operation, and disassembly of equipment for laboratory-scale fermentations including bioreactors, bench-top centrifuges, and freeze-dryers.
- Properly generates, records, and interprets data from laboratory-scale fermentations.
- Conducts sampling and testing of in-process, finished material, and stability samples generated by Pilot Lab.
- Proactively identifies opportunities to improve strain performance through analysis of laboratory and production data.
- Organizes and presents during cross-functional team meetings to facilitate scale-up of new manufacturing processes and changes.
- Present findings and updates to internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Initiates and documents preliminary investigations in accordance with plant-specific processes and criteria.
- Prepares media for Pilot fermentations and sample analysis, including material verification, weighing, autoclaving, pouring, and dispensing as needed
- Complies with plant safety rules and maintains work area in a clean and orderly condition.
- Performs audits and maintenance on laboratory equipment as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions .
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE - Ph.D. or Master’s degree in microbiology, food-science, biology, biochemistry, or chemistry.
- Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in microbial fermentation; experience in the probiotic or food biotech industry is strongly preferred.
- Knowledge and experience with Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Good Documentation Practices (GDPs)
- Demonstrated ability to lead scientific teams or manage complex R&D projects
- Ability to interact with customers and share technical information as required and further communicate time-lines and schedules as needed.
- Proficient in bioreactor systems, process control strategies, and microbial physiology.
- Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
- Experience working in a global, cross-functional environment is a plus.
Job Tags
Full time,