Research Engineer, ATMF

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Research Engineer in Process Development for the Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility. This role will develop and optimize upstream and downstream bioprocesses for plasmids, mRNA/LNP formulations, and cell therapies, reporting to the Process Development Manager in ATMF.

The position requires an engineering background with hands-on bioprocess experience and a track record of cross-functional collaboration across GMP settings.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science.
• Minimum of three years of related experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master’s degree in Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related field.
• Experience with bioprocessing techniques and equipment, including bioreactors, depth filtration, chromatography and tangential flow filtration is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize upstream and downstream bioprocess development workflows.
• Coordinate technology transfer to ATMF’s GMP laboratories and support scale-up.
• Mentor junior process development staff and supervise students or interns.
• Prepare reports and communicate results to stakeholders and funding bodies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Independent work

Education

Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science

Master’s degree in Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

LIMS

Electronic Lab Notebooks

Job description

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Scientific Eng., Level B Job Title Research Engineer, ATMF Department Process Development | ATMF | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range $7,158.42 - $10,292.25 CAD Monthly

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date August 26, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date September 15, 2027

This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF) is a new CFI-funded project and part of Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH), a UBC-led national research hub that aims to align the critical mass of immune-engineering with biomanufacturing and public health strengths concentrated in BC. This multi-year, multi-phase initiative aims to build a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) biomanufacturing core facility to produce advanced therapeutics—such as cells, mRNA vaccines, and ancillary plasmid DNA—essential for early-phase clinical trials, addressing current health challenges, and strengthening Canada’s pandemic preparedness.

The Research Engineer – Process Development position aims to develop and facilitate the research being conducted at the ATMF. Specifically, the engineer in this position will conduct research, contribute to, coordinate, and lead selected technical workstreams to advance biomanufacturing technologies for various therapeutic products, including plasmids, mRNA/LNP formulations, cell therapy products, and related advanced therapeutics workflows. This role involves designing and optimizing upstream and downstream processes, performing data analysis, developing robust manufacturing protocols, maintaining laboratory equipment, supporting technology transfer to GMP production environments, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. In some instances, the Engineer will also supervise junior staff who are conducting research.

The Research Engineer will work with the ATMF Process Development Manager, Project Lead and staff to prepare reports and peer-reviewed publications, present research results at scientific conferences, to funding organizations, and other external stakeholders.

The position is based in a laboratory at the ATMF facility and pilot-scale laboratories. Travel will be required between multiple laboratory sites, including BCCHR, BC Cancer, and UBC Point Grey Campus.

Organizational Status

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, 3 schools, and 25 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.

The Research Engineer will report to the Manager of Process Development, Nucleic Acid Therapies, ATMF.

Works in the Process and Analytical Development lab with other research and technical staff. Supervises junior technical staff, students or trainees overseeing the team conducting specific experiments in bioprocess, process, and analytical development. Consults with ATMF managers, staff and other UBC departments, universities, research institutes, vendors, and industry partners in the bioprocess design , technology assessment, equipment selection and workflow implementation.

Work Performed

• Design experimental and analytical investigations related to bioprocess engineering of advanced therapeutic products and/or ancillary materials, including plasmids, mRNA-LNP, cell therapy products, biologics and related advanced therapeutics.
• Execute, and lead optimization of the assigned upstream and downstream process development workflows, which may include pDNA synthesis, IVT, cell culture, transformation, transfection, fermentation, purification, filtration, formulation, and analytical characterization. This includes planning and conducting experiments, operating specialized equipment, analyzing process-performance data, troubleshooting, and independently recommending or implementing changes to process parameters or methods within approved project objectives and in consultation with ATMF Process Development lead, QA/QC and GMP manufacturing personnel as required.
• Conduct experiments, collate data, analyze results and communicate findings in a timely and scientifically rigorous manner.
• Develop or apply mathematical, statistical, and analytical models to support process assessments, including yield, purity, potency, stability, reproducibility, and process performance evaluation.
• Assess and implement bioprocess design alternatives using experimental data, engineering principles, risk assessment, and fit‑for‑purpose process development strategies.
• Independently perform, verify, and document complex design, and scale‑up calculations, and process transfer assessments related to experimental and translational biomanufacturing work; evaluate calculation assumptions and outputs, identify scale‑up risks or constraints, and recommend process, equipment or method changes based on the results.
• Develop, optimize, and maintain protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch record style documents, and other technical documentation for bioprocess workflows.
• Evaluate and integrate new bioprocessing technologies, consumables, analytical tools, and equipment to enhance efficiency, robustness, scalability, and product quality.
• Work with equipment vendors and internal stakeholders to assist with installation, qualification support, calibration, modification, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of bioprocess and analytical equipment
• Maintain detailed documentation following Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and contribute to GMP‑aligned documentation packages in collaboration with QC/QA teams.
• Coordinate technology transfer from process development laboratories to ATMF’s GMP laboratories, by assessing transfer readiness, defining technical requirements, compiling transfer documentation, identifying process, equipment, or documentation risks, and recommending adjustments to process parameters, methods, equipment set‑up or documentation to ensure alignment with regulatory, quality and operational requirements.
• Participate in hiring, training, mentoring and supervision of junior process and analytical development staff, students, coop interns, or trainees.
• Provide technical assistance and work closely with scientists, operations, engineers, quality teams, vendors, and GMP manufacturing personnel to support bioprocess innovations and translational manufacturing readiness.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The Research Engineer may have access to confidential data. The quality of work performed will determine the success of ATMF projects and funding. Exercising poor judgment and failing to consult appropriately with research team members and supervisors can adversely affect the viability and validity of ATMF’s projects or programs and may compromise UBC and the Department’s ability to secure grant‑based funding for future ATMF projects.

Supervision Received

The ATMF Process Development Manager will provide overall supervision of this role. However, the Research Engineer may take direction and feedback from senior members of the ATMF. It is important that the Research Engineer be capable of working independently within project objectives.

Supervision Given

The Research Engineer will participate in the hiring, training, and supervision of junior process development staff, students, coop interns, and trainees. The Research Engineer may provide guidance and direction to staff in carrying out experiments, protocol development, equipment evaluation, data analysis, process optimization, documentation and troubleshooting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science.
• Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related field.
• Experience in hands‑on experience with bioprocessing techniques and equipment, including bioreactors, depth filtration, chromatography and tangential flow filtration systems, and formulation.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with process design, experimental design, process characterization, troubleshooting, optimization and data interpretation.
• Experience supporting scale up, process transfer, or translation of research‑stage workflows toward GMP‑ready or clinical‑grade production environment is an asset.
• Knowledge of automation, process control, high‑throughput screening, data analysis, workflows, or digital tools for process & analytical development is an asset.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate research reports, technical reports, protocols, and presentations.
• Experience in working with LIMS, electronic lab notebooks, and data management systems.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as Health Canada, FDA, and EMA guidelines for cell and gene therapies is an asset.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends, evenings, and early mornings, as required.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast‑paced, collaborative research environment.
• Strong commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, scientific rigour, and operational excellence.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world.

Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.

We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at [e-mail].