Associate Scientist - Upstream Bioprocess

Zohorecruit; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 155,669,000 - 158,424,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Paid sick leave

401K

Job summary

Our client in the life sciences sector seeks an Associate Scientist - Upstream Bioprocess based in Foster City, CA, to support pilot-scale biologics development. The role involves executing upstream culture, promptly addressing process issues, and assisting technology transfers in a fast-paced lab setting.

Requirements include hands-on upstream cell culture experience at bench to manufacturing scale, strong documentation skills, and a collaborative, safety-focused mindset in a schedule-driven

Qualifications

• HANDS-ON upstream cell culture/bioprocessing at bench, pilot, or manufacturing scale.
• Experience with bioreactors, media/buffer preparation, and process execution.
• Strong technical documentation and data communication.
• Organized, collaborative, safety-focused in a schedule-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Execute upstream cell culture using shake flasks, WAVE systems, and 100L/500L single-use bioreactors.
• Prepare media, buffers, and reagents; set up equipment and support teardowns.
• Perform bioreactor sampling, feeding, and end-to-end run support.
• Troubleshoot pilot runs, equipment, inventory, analytics, and lab readiness.
• Maintain SOPs, Benchling records, run summaries, deviations, and change notes.
• Support technology transfers and monitor process performance.

Skills

Upstream cell culture

Bioprocessing

Documentation

Team collaboration

Safety culture

Education

AA/AS + 4+ years experience

BS/BE in Chemical/Biochemical Eng or Biology + 2+ years

Job description

Associate Scientist - Upstream Bioprocess

San Mateo, United States | Posted on 10/01/2026

Our client, a worldleader in life sciences and biotechnology, is looking for an“AssociateScientist - Upstream Bioprocess” based in Foster City, CA.

Job Duration:LongTerm Contract(Possibility of Extension)

Pay Rate : $54.50/hr onW2

Company Benefits: Medical, Paid Sickleave, 401K

Hands-on upstreambioprocess professional supporting pilot-scale biologics development. Executecell culture processes, troubleshoot real-time process issues, supporttechnology transfers, and maintain accurate documentation in a fast-paced pilotlab environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Executeupstream cell culture processes using shake flasks, WAVE systems, and100L/500L single-use bioreactors.
• Preparemedia, buffers, and reagents; set up equipment and support post-runteardown/cleaning.
• Performbioreactor sampling, feeding, and end-to-end run support.
• Troubleshootpilot runs and support equipment, inventory, analytical activities, andlab readiness.
• Maintainaccurate SOPs, Benchling batch records, run summaries, deviations, andchange notes.
• Supporttechnology transfers, monitor process performance, and summarizedata/results.
• Contributeto continuous improvement and biologics development programs.

Qualifications

• Hands-on upstream cell culture/bioprocessing experience at bench, pilot, ormanufacturing scale.
• Experiencewith bioreactors, media/buffer preparation, and process execution.
• Strongtechnical documentation and data communication skills.
• Organized,collaborative, safety-focused, and comfortable in a schedule-drivenenvironment.

Preferred

• Pilot-scalebioprocess experience, especially WAVE systems or single-usebioreactors.
• Technologytransfer, manufacturing support, or GMP/GMP-adjacent experience.
• Experienceacross multiple upstream unit operations.

Education

• AA/AS+ 4+ years relevant industry experience, OR
• BS/BEin Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology,or related field + 2+ years relevant experience.