Downstream Bioprocess Associate

The Planet Group; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Planet Group seeks a dedicated bioprocess professional for a 12-month contract to drive downstream purification in pilot-scale operations at our Foster City site. You will run chromatography, TFF, and viral filtration, prepare buffers, and manage single-use equipment, ensuring clean run execution and safety compliance.

You will document runs in SOPs and batch records, interpret data, and support tech transfer and scale-up across biologics programs in a fast-paced team.

Qualifications

• AA/AS with 4+ years in downstream purification or bioprocessing, or BS/BE with 2+ years.
• Experience with chromatography, TFF, viral filtration, depth filtration, centrifugation.
• Experience operating ÄKTA systems and UNICORN; chromatography column operation is relevant.
• Strong documentation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute downstream purification runs, including clarification, chromatography, TFF, and viral filtration, in a schedule-driven pilot environment.
• Prepare buffers and reagents; set up, operate, clean, and tear down pilot-scale and single-use equipment.
• Pack and unpack chromatography columns, operate ÄKTA systems, and use UNICORN methods for run execution.
• Document work in SOPs, batch records, run sheets, and summaries; capture observations and deviations clearly.
• Monitor process performance, interpret data, troubleshoot during runs, and communicate findings to cross-functional partners.
• Support process scale-up, comparability activities, technology transfer, lab readiness, and occasional weekend or extended-hour coverage.

Skills

Downstream purification

ÄKTA systems

UNICORN software

Documentation

Pilot-scale experience

Education

AA/AS degree (4+ yrs)

BS/BE degree (2+ yrs)

Tools

UNICORN software

ÄKTA chromatography systems

Job description

• Work directly with pilot-scale chromatography, TFF, viral filtration, depth filtration, centrifugation, and single-use equipment.
• Build practical skills in scale-up, end-to-end run execution, controlled documentation, troubleshooting, and technology transfer.
• Contribute to multiple early- and late-stage biologics programs in a collaborative, fast-moving environment.
• Gain meaningful continuity through a 12-month contract that runs from your start date.

What You'll Do

• Plan and execute downstream purification runs, including clarification, chromatography, TFF, and viral filtration, in a schedule-driven pilot environment.
• Prepare buffers and reagents; set up, operate, clean, and tear down pilot-scale and single-use equipment.
• Pack and unpack chromatography columns, operate ÄKTA systems, and use UNICORN methods for run execution.
• Document work in SOPs, batch records, run sheets, and summaries; capture observations and deviations clearly.
• Monitor process performance, interpret data, troubleshoot during runs, and communicate findings to cross-functional partners.
• Support process scale-up, comparability activities, technology transfer, lab readiness, and occasional weekend or extended-hour coverage.

What You'll Bring

• Experience with downstream purification operations such as chromatography, TFF, viral filtration, depth filtration, centrifugation, and buffer preparation.
• Experience operating ÄKTA systems and working with UNICORN; chromatography column operation experience is strongly relevant.
• Clear technical communication, documentation, organization, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Your broader experience can come from bench, pilot, or manufacturing settings; hands-on pilot-scale work is the one must-have.

Nice to Have

• End-to-end purification process execution rather than experience with only one unit operation.
• Biologics pilot plant, manufacturing support, technology transfer, or GMP-adjacent experience.
• Experience with single-use facilities, controlled documentation, process scale-up, or comparability activities.
• Flexibility to support occasional weekend or extended-hour run coverage.

Education

• AA/AS degree with more than 4 years of relevant industry experience in downstream purification or bioprocessing; or
• BS/BE in chemical or biochemical engineering, biochemistry, biology, or a related discipline with more than 2 years of relevant experience.