Cell Culture Technician

Make it in the North; Groningen; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific in Groningen produces biopharmaceuticals for clinical trials and commercial use in a GMP environment. The role works in the USP department, within a cleanroom, handling thawing to 1000L/2000L bioreactors and collaborating with multiple teams to ensure compliant production.

The position emphasizes precision, safety, and cGMP/EH&S compliance, with opportunities to work cross-functionally across DSP, MBP, MSAT, and QA teams.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Life Sciences or related field is required.
• Knowledge of basic lab processes (cell culture, bioreactors, microbiology) is preferred.
• Completed vocational degree (MBO or equivalent) is required.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture biopharmaceutical products in a cleanroom following procedures and operate LAF hoods and bioreactors.
• Document activities in production protocols and resolve comments after review.
• Maintain and troubleshoot equipment.
• Update and create Standard Operating Procedures and logbooks.
• Take samples during production for Quality Control analysis.
• Train new hires when completely trained (not mandatory).

Skills

Teamwork

Organised

Quality focus

Results oriented

Clear communication

Flexibility

Education

Biotech/Life Sciences Diploma

Vocational degree (MBO)

Job description

Purpose of the Job

Make biopharmaceutical products following international quality standards set by the FDA, EMEA and ICH and other regulatory organizations. We follow strict rules to make sure everything is done safely adhering to the GMP-compliance regulations set by the regulatory organizations. Our work must be precise and efficient to protect the quality and value of our products.

About the Job

On the Groningen site we produce medicines for clinical trials (phases I, II, and III) and commercial use using mammalian cell lines. This position is for the USP (Upstream Processing) department. In this department, you will be working in the cleanroom with cells and follow the process from thawing to bioreactors of 1000L/2000L.

What You’ll Do

• Manufacturing biopharmaceutical products in a cleanroom environment by following detailed procedures while maintaining an organized workspace. Operate critical processing equipment, including LAF hoods and bioreactors.
• Document activities in production protocols and resolve comments after review
• Maintain and troubleshoot equipment
• Updating and creating Standard Operating Procedures and logbooks.
• Take samples during the process that will be analyzed by the Quality Control
• Training of new hires when completely trained (not mandatory)

Why This Job is Exciting

At Thermo Fisher’s Groningen site, we manufacture a diverse range of products for both clinical trials and commercial use. This diversity means production tasks can vary from first-time production runs to routine commercial batch manufacturing. Given the variety of customers and products, processing steps also differ significantly. Due to the high value of our products and intermediates, accuracy, reliability, and compliance with cGMP and EH&S regulations are crucial. This job requires flexibility and teamwork. You’ll mostly work with the USP team, but sometimes you’ll collaborate with other departments such as the Down Stream (DSP), Media Buffer Preparation (MBP), Manufacturing Science and Technology (MSAT) and Quality Assurance (QA) teams.

What You Need

• A diploma in Biotechnology, Biology and Medical Laboratory Research, Process Technology, or a similar field in Life Sciences (i.e. MLO or HLO).
• Knowledge of basic lab processes (e.g., cell culture, bioreactors, microbiology or cell banking).
• Completed vocational degree (MBO or similar level of education) in a related field.

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

• Teamwork
• Staying organised
• Focusing on quality
• Working towards results
• Clear communication (speaking and writing)
• Being flexible and open to change