Large Scale Cell Culture Scientist – Bioprocess Design Center

ThermoFisher Scientific; Plainville (MA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Employee stock purchase plan

Parental leave

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a cell culture engineer to drive upstream process development using single‑use technologies (SUT). The role focuses on designing experiments, generating data packages, and delivering training in support of customer applications.

You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, mentor junior staff, and contribute to scale‑up activities up to 5,000 L while ensuring technical credibility and robust process performance.

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field.
• MS/PhD with relevant bioprocessing experience is preferred.
• Experience designing and executing cell culture process development or scale-down studies.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute cell culture studies to replicate and optimize customer bioprocess workflows using Thermo Fisher SUT equipment.
• Develop technical data packages demonstrating process robustness and scalability across customer applications.
• Generate defensible evidence for product claims and marketing materials in line with project goals.
• Collaborate with Application Scientists and R&D to feed data back into product development.

Skills

Cell culture engineering

SUT bioprocessing

Data analysis

Experiment design

Technical communication

Education

Chemical/Biochemical Eng

Biotechnology

MS/PhD preferred

Tools

SUT equipment

Process automation

Data analytics tools

Job description

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Laboratory Setting, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

Location

On-site Plainville, MA. Relocation assistance is NOT provided.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.

How Will You Make an Impact?

Our new Bioprocess Design Center is an innovative facility dedicated to demonstrating and training customers on our innovative single-use technologies, Upstream and Downstream solutions, cell culture media, cell lines, resin and analytical offerings. We are seeking a cell culture engineer who drives customer‑centric process innovation by designing, executing, and delivering upstream process development programs that generate data‑driven evidence of single‑use technology (SUT) performance. This role bridges Thermo Fisher’s product portfolio with real‑world customer applications — advancing confidence in our technologies through evidence generation, customer process optimization, hands‑on training, and internal enablement.

The position plays a critical role in building technical credibility with customers, ensuring our bioprocessing solutions are validated through rigorous experimentation and well‑documented performance metrics. This individual also supports small‑scale process development up to 5,000L scale. The role leads customer training initiatives and supports internal capability building on Thermo Fisher’s SUT platforms.

What Will You Do?

Customer Process Development and Evidence Generation

• Design and execute cell culture studies to replicate and optimize customer bioprocess workflows using Thermo Fisher SUT equipment (e.g., bioreactors, mixers, and harvest systems).
• Develop technical data packages demonstrating process robustness, scalability, and product performance across a range of customer applications.
• Generate scientifically defensible evidence for product claims and marketing collateral, aligned with BDC goals for evidence generation and customer adoption.
• Collaborate with Application Scientists and R&D to feed experimental data back into product development and next‑generation technology design.

Customer Engagement and Training

• Lead and deliver hands‑on customer training sessions focused on best practices in SUT operation, upstream process control, and data analytics.
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical training modules for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner with commercial teams to support customer visits, technology showcases, and pilot demonstrations that strengthen confidence in Thermo Fisher solutions.

Internal Training and Capability Building

• Conduct internal training programs for Thermo Fisher colleagues, focusing on the application, troubleshooting, and process design aspects of SUT bioprocessing technologies.
• Mentor junior engineers and scientists, fostering a culture of technical excellence and operational readiness within the BDC.
• Provide cross‑functional guidance on experimental design, data interpretation, and single‑use process integration.

Innovation and Collaboration

• Contribute to the design of next‑generation process solutions by integrating feedback from BDC studies into product and system development.
• Lead initiatives that showcase end‑to‑end workflows combining upstream, harvest, and analytical tools within the Thermo Fisher ecosystem.
• Partner with global R&D, marketing, and operations teams to define experimental priorities aligned with customer needs and market trends.

Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of single use bioreactor operation (5L-5000L scale), control strategies, and process data analysis.
• Proven ability to generate and communicate technical evidence supporting product performance.
• Strong communication skills with experience leading customer‑facing technical sessions.
• Adept at designing experiments that align with measurable business KPIs (e.g., number of customer engagements, process validations, internal training sessions, and data packages generated).
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment with cross‑functional teams.

How Will You Get Here?

• B.S. in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related discipline with ≥5 years of relevant experience; M.S. with ≥3 years; or PhD.
• Strong background in mammalian cell culture, upstream bioprocessing, and SUT system implementation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing process development or scale‑down studies.
• Familiarity with data analytics, process automation, and technology transfer principles.
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biology,

We offer competitive remuneration, annual incentive plan bonus scheme, healthcare, company 401k, and a range of employee benefits! Thermo Fisher Scientific offers employment with an innovative, forward‑thinking organization, and outstanding career and development prospects. We offer an exciting company culture that stands for integrity, intensity, involvement, and innovation.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform critical job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $96,000.00–$130,000.00.

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
• Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
• At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short‑and long‑term disability in accordance with company policy
• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.