Senior Research engineer - R&D Downstream Process Development viral vector

Cytiva; Uppsala kommun; On-site; SEK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cytiva in Uppsala, Sweden seeks a Senior Research Engineer to lead filtration and purification development for AAV and lentiviral vectors, covering harvest, clarification, and downstream processing with close ties to product development and market support.

You will optimize processes, scale operations, contribute to technology translation, and present findings at conferences while ensuring quality and regulatory alignment; fluency in English required, Swedish a plus; MSc and 5+ years industrial

Qualifications

• MSc in biopharma or related field with hands-on lab experience.
• Minimum 5 years in industrial biopharma process development.
• Experience with viral vectors is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize downstream purification processes for viral vectors.
• Design experiments, scale-up purification steps, and ensure reproducibility.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to translate process understanding into robust solutions.
• Prepare technical documentation and communicate results to teams.

Skills

MSc degree

5+ years industrial Biopharma

Downstream purification

Viral vectors experience

Education

Master of Science in Bioprocessing/Biotechnology

Tools

Filtration systems

Chromatography

Job description

As a Scientist you will be working with filtration and purification of AAV/Lentivirus including harvest and clarification from Upstream material. Work will be conducted in new product development, product care and market support projects with customer needs in focus.

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?

At Cytiva, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact.

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life.

Working at Cytiva means being at the forefront of providing new solutions to transform human health. Our incredible customers undertake life-saving activities ranging from fundamental biological research to developing innovative vaccines, new medicines, and cell and gene therapies.

At Cytiva you will be able to continuously improve yourself and us – working on challenges that truly matter with people that care for each other, our customers, and their patients. Take your next step to an altogether life-changing career.

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

We are looking for a Senior Research Engineer to join the Viral Vector Applications R&D section in Uppsala. The team consists of approximately 20 researchers focused on the development and optimization of downstream processes for viral vectors, plasmids, and nucleic acids, including purification, filtration, and analytical workflows. The work is closely connected to product development, translating process understanding into solutions that meet customer needs.

We are now seeking a new colleague who will work with downstream process development activities for viral vector manufacturing. The role focuses on developing, optimizing, and scaling purification processes, with particular emphasis on filtration and chromatography operations. The successful candidate will apply process understanding to improve productivity, robustness, scalability, and manufacturability while supporting the development of next-generation Cytiva technologies.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Research Engineer, you will focus on the development, optimization, and implementation of filtration and purification processes for AAV and lentiviral vectors, including harvest and clarification of upstream material. Your work will span new product development, product care, and market support projects, always with a strong customer and process performance focus.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Driving process development activities within filtration and downstream purification, including experimental design, method development, and method verification to ensure robust and scalable processes.


• Applying a holistic understanding of the end-to-end workflow (Upstream to Downstream including analytics) to design efficient, integrated process solutions and provide technically sound recommendations aligned with customer needs and regulatory requirements.


• Independently planning, executing, and analyzing experiments in a structured and data-driven manner, and effectively communicating results in project teams and customer interactions.


• Owning and maintaining process-related infrastructure by ensuring proper use, calibration, and upkeep of instrumentation, as well as developing and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support reproducibility and quality.


• Evaluating, proposing, and implementing new technologies and technical solutions within your area, with a focus on improving process efficiency, robustness, and scalability.


• Contributing to scientific dissemination by preparing and delivering posters and oral presentations at conferences, translating process development outcomes into clear and impactful insights.

Who You Are

• You hold a MSc and have at least 5 years of industrial experience in biopharmaceutical process development, particularly within harvest and downstream processing.


• You have hands‑on experience in developing and optimizing end‑to‑end purification processes, with a strong understanding of critical process parameters, scalability, and process robustness. Experience with viral vectors is highly desirable.


• You enjoy working in the lab, bringing structure to complex tasks, and take pride in maintaining clear, accurate, and well‑organized documentation.


• You possess strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex process data into clear insights.


• You are fluent in English (spoken and written) and having working proficiency in Swedish in seen as a plus.

It would be a plus if you also possess experience in:

• Experience working with large-scale production equipment is considered a strong advantage and demonstrates your ability to bridge process development and manufacturing.


• You thrive on working in cross‑functional teams, where collaboration and communication are essential to drive projects forward. You enjoy working in a dynamic environment and maintain a strong focus on delivering robust, customer‑oriented process solutions.