Director, Downstream Processing & Scale-Up (CDMO/CMO)

Debut Biotech; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Debut Biotech is seeking an Associate Director/Director of Downstream Processing to lead strategy and execution of purification processes for fermentation‑derived products. You will guide a team of scientists and engineers through bench, pilot, and manufacturing scale while managing external CDMO/CMO partnerships from proposal to tech transfer and commercial scale‑up.

The role requires deep expertise in downstream unit operations and strong cross‑functional collaboration to deliver

Qualifications

• Significant downstream process development experience for fermentation‑derived products.
• Experience guiding bench, pilot, and manufacturing scales.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and mentor scientists/engineers.
• Experience authoring and executing technology transfers to CDMO/CMO.
• Strong communication with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Direct development of downstream purification processes from bench to manufacturing scale.
• Lead CDMO/CMO partnerships, proposals, site visits, and tech transfer.
• Serve as technical PM for scale‑up projects, ensuring timelines and budgets.
• Provide experimental, modeling, and statistical support for transfers.
• Collaborate with quality, regulatory, and supply chain teams.

Skills

Downstream DSP

Process development

Tech transfer

Team leadership

CDMO/CMO partnerships

Scale-up management

Education

PhD + 10 years

MS + 16 years

BS + 18 years

Tools

Centrifugation

Filtration

Distillation

Chromatography

Crystallization

Drying

Job description

Debut Biotech is seeking an Associate Director/Director of Downstream Processing to lead strategy and execution of purification processes for fermentation‑derived products. You will guide a team of scientists and engineers through bench, pilot, and manufacturing scale while managing external CDMO/CMO partnerships from proposal to tech transfer and commercial scale‑up.

The role requires deep expertise in downstream unit operations and strong cross‑functional collaboration to deliver