Biologics Pilot Plant & Process Team Lead

Celonic-Ag; Basel; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Celonic AG in Basel, Switzerland, seeks a senior leader to head the Pilot & Process Science team within the Biologics Development Center. You will oversee pilot-scale DS processes, guide biotechnicians and engineers, and drive technology transfer to commercial manufacturing, ensuring timely delivery aligned with client commitments and Celonic’s strategic priorities.

The role requires a Master’s degree in Biotechnology or related field, 5+ years in pilot-scale/biologics production, strong

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Bioprocess Engineering or related field.
• At least 5 years of pilot-scale or commercial biologics production experience.
• Experience in technology transfer between sites or from development/pilot to commercial.
• Strong knowledge of bioprocessing technologies (mammalian culture, USP/DSP) and cGMP.
• Experience leading small to mid-sized operational teams and multiple projects.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills with ability to implement improvements.
• Familiarity with QbD, statistical tools and data-driven optimization.
• Proactive, collaborative, organized with good communication.
• Proficiency in MS Office; English fluent; German an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the team of biotechnicians and process engineers.
• Oversee pilot process design, execution, troubleshooting and documentation.
• Coordinate pilot plant activities and resources for timely delivery of batches.
• Drive technology transfer to commercial manufacturing facilities.
• Promote technical excellence and process improvements.
• Collaborate across Biologics Development Center and manufacturing teams.
• Ensure quality, documentation and HSE compliance.
• Identify opportunities to streamline operations and agility.

Skills

Team leadership

Pilot process knowledge

Bioprocessing (USP/DSP)

cGMP knowledge

QbD / data-driven

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

English fluency

German an advantage

Education

Master’s degree in Biotechnology / Bioprocess Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Celonic AG in Basel, Switzerland, seeks a senior leader to head the Pilot & Process Science team within the Biologics Development Center. You will oversee pilot-scale DS processes, guide biotechnicians and engineers, and drive technology transfer to commercial manufacturing, ensuring timely delivery aligned with client commitments and Celonic’s strategic priorities.

The role requires a Master’s degree in Biotechnology or related field, 5+ years in pilot-scale/biologics production, strong