Senior Expert Science & Technology (m/f/d) - Upstream Cell Culture Process Development & Transfer

Novartis; Osterreich; Hybrid; PEN 259,000 - 457,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive program

Pension scheme

Childcare facilities

Learning and development opportunities

Worldwide career opportunities

Job summary

Novartis AG is seeking a Senior Expert in Upstream Process Development to lead late-phase bioprocess activities and ensure successful tech transfer for clinical and commercial supply. You will collaborate with internal and external partners to deliver robust cell culture processes across global sites.

The role emphasizes mentorship, data-driven process improvement, and active contribution to development strategies within a cross-functional team. Fluency in English and German is expected.

Qualifications

• University degree in life sciences (biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, or equivalent).
• PhD with min. 2 years industrial experience or Master with min. 6 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead late-phase upstream process development and characterization, including scale up and tech transfer for manufacturing of biotherapeutics.
• Drive upstream development for portfolio and innovation projects; generate high-quality data for process understanding.
• Utilize modeling and simulation tools to support in-silico process development and transfer.
• Author, review and approve technical, scientific and regulatory-relevant documents incl. risk assessments.
• Collaborate across functions to translate lab-scale insights into robust production processes.
• Contribute to strategic evolution of upstream platform technologies and global guidelines.

Skills

Bioprocess engineering

Cell culture

DoE & MVDA

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

University degree in life sciences

PhD with min. 2 years

Master with min. 6 years industrial experience

Tools

Statistical methods

Job description

Salary Range:

€66,918.00 - €117,800.00

Job Description Summary

With over 25 years of experience in cell culture process development and several commercialized products on the market, we are dedicated to scientific excellence and innovation. This is your opportunity to join the Drug Substance Upstream Process Development team in Schaftenau as a Senior Expert Science & Technology (m/f/d), where your expertise will directly contribute to delivering life-changing medicines to patients around the world.

As a Senior Expert in Upstream Process Development, you will lead all USP-related activities for late-phase development—driving process characterization and ensuring seamless transfer of robust cell culture processes for clinical and commercial supply.
You will work in cross-functional teams and collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, as well as external partners, to deliver excellence at every stage of development. A key responsibility of this role is to ensure the successful transfer of in-house and in-licensed upstream processes to internal manufacturing sites, thereby enabling global patient access to innovative medicines.

24 Month Fixed Term Contract
#LI-Hybrid
Location - Schaftenau, Austria

Job Description

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Bioprocess Development & Innovation

• Lead late-phase upstream process development and characterization, including scale up and tech transfer for manufacturing of biotherapeutics, and serve as USP subject matter expert within cross-functional teams
• Drive upstream development for portfolio and innovation projects, leveraging lab- and pilot-scale capabilities to generate high-quality data for process understanding and model development
• Utilize modeling and simulation tools to support in-silico process development and transfer
• Author, review and approve technical, scientific and regulatory-relevant documents incl. risk assessments
• Collaborate across functions and geographies to translate lab-scale insights into robust, scalable production processes
• Contribute to the strategic evolution of upstream platform technologies, innovation initiatives, and global guidelines. This includes active participation in global USP functional network and focus groups

Bioprocess Scale-up and process transfer

• Drive bioprocess scale up and transfer of cell culture processes within our internal bioproduction network
• Evaluation of process characterization data, development reports, and associated documentation to ensure alignment of external processes with internal standards
• Support roll-out and implementation of PAT technologies as part of process transfers

Leadership & Knowledge Sharing

• Mentor and coach junior scientific associates
• Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations and intellectual property generation
• Communicate effectively across organizational interfaces; lead troubleshooting and transfer of know-how to/from other departments or external partner

Education & Experience

• University degree in life sciences (biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, or equivalent); PhD with min. 2 years or Master with min. 6 years industrial experience or equivalent
• Proven experience in upstream process transfer and collaboration with manufacturing partners

Languages

• Fluent in English and German

Technical Expertise

• Profound knowledge and hands on experience in bioprocess engineering principles and upstream unit operations; knowledge in cell culture process late-phase development
• Experience with statistical methods (DoE, MVDA) as well as with data-driven or mechanistic models
• Excellent communication, presentation, project management as well as ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams
• Experience with use of mechanistic, data-driven, and hybrid models for in-silico process development and optimization would be a plus

Rewards:

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role:

• 66,918.00 – 117,800 EUR

In addition to a market-competitive base salary, we offer an attractive incentive program, a modern company pension scheme, childcare facilities, learning and development opportunities as well as worldwide career possibilities within the Novartis group. In accordance with Austrian law, we are obliged to disclose the minimum salary as stated in the collective bargaining agreement. For this position the minimum salary is € 65,605.54 EUR/year (on a full-time basis). The actual salary will be significantly higher, as we strive to maintain a competitive position in the market and consider your previous experience, qualifications and individual competencies. We are open for part-time and job-sharing models and support flexible and remote working where possible.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO paragraph:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverseteams’representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Adjustments for Applicants with Disabilities:

If because of a medical condition, physical disability or a neurodiverse condition you require an adjustment during the recruitment process, please reach out [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request as well as your contact information. The support which we can provide will include advice on suitable positions as well as guidance at all stages of the application process. Austrian law provides candidates the opportunity to involve the local disability representative,Behindertenvertrauensperson(BVP), in the application process. If you would like to request this, please let us know in advance as a note on your CV.

Skills Desired