Process Engineer

cascade-biocatalysts; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Cascade Biocatalysts is seeking a hands-on Process Development Scientist to build and lead our process development, intensification, and scale-up efforts at our Denver campus. You will own process development end-to-end, establish SOPs, and shepherd bench-scale concepts to commercial-scale operations.

The role requires deep catalysis expertise, collaboration with enzyme immobilization and analytical teams, and the ability to translate process bottlenecks into engineering targets while mentoring

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in biochemistry, chemical engineering, organic chemistry, or a related field with a strong catalysis focus.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development including scale up, continuous improvements and commercial catalyst development.
• Demonstrated ability to improve process performance against real commercial targets, including yield, cost, throughput, not just feasibility.
• Experience with techno‑economic modeling and process analytical tools.
• Familiarity with DOE‑driven development and comfort using data systematically to guide decisions.
• Experience working across disciplines, including protein engineering, analytical chemistry, and engineering, and translating between scientific and commercial priorities.
• Prior experience at a biocatalysis‑focused company, CDMO, or industrial process chemistry group strongly preferred.
• Comfort operating in an early‑stage environment with limited resources, ambiguity, and ambitious goals.

Responsibilities

• Own process development end‑to‑end, from initial catalyst hits to optimized ready to scale processes.
• Run and optimize enzymatic reactions, driving process intensification by improving space‑time yield, reducing catalyst loading, extending catalyst lifetime, and lowering overall process costs.
• Collaborate with our enzyme immobilization team to evaluate and implement heterogeneous catalyst formats.
• Evaluate and implement new equipment and process analytical technology solutions.
• Lead and grow a small process development team over time, mentoring junior scientists while maintaining a technical culture and standards.
• Build and maintain techno‑economic models tracking key process metrics: E‑factor, PMI, catalyst cost contribution, and downstream processing implications.
• Interface with protein engineering efforts, translating process bottlenecks into enzyme engineering targets and back‑integrating improved variants.
• Contribute broadly across the organization: at this stage of the company, the most impactful team members bring their expertise to problems beyond their core scope.
• Strong communication skills and ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional and dynamic environment across a variety of programs.

Skills

Catalysis expertise

Biocatalysis

DOE methods

Data-driven decisions

Leadership potential

Education

PhD in Biochemistry

MS in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process simulators

Techno-economic modelling

DOE software

Analytical instruments

Job description

Job Title: Process Development Scientist

Location: Denver, CO (on-site)
Type: Full-time

Job Description:
Cascade Biocatalysts is building the next generation of industrial biocatalysts and is seeking a hands‑on Process Development Scientist to join and lead our process development, intensification, and scale‑up efforts.

This is a foundational role at Cascade Bio. You will be the person who builds our process development function, setting technical direction, establishing SOPs and standards, and owning the path from bench‑scale proof of concept to a process that works at commercial scale. You will work directly with the founding team, with ownership over outcomes and the opportunity to shape not just the science but the culture and direction of the company.

The right candidate is a subject matter expert on process development and is as comfortable running reactions at the bench as they are thinking about cost per kilogram and scale‑up implications. The ideal candidate comes from a CDMO or industrial process chemistry group, and is now ready to bring that instinct and experience to a place where their work will have direct and visible impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Own process development end‑to‑end, from initial catalyst hits to optimized ready to scale processes
  
• Run and optimize enzymatic reactions, driving process intensification by improving space‑time yield, reducing catalyst loading, extending catalyst lifetime, and lowering overall process costs
  
• Collaborate with our enzyme immobilization team to evaluate and implement heterogeneous catalyst formats
  
• Evaluate and implement new equipment and process analytical technology solutions
  
• Lead and grow a small process development team over time, mentoring junior scientists while maintaining a technical culture and standards
  
• Build and maintain techno‑economic models tracking key process metrics: E‑factor, PMI, catalyst cost contribution, and downstream processing implications
  
• Interface with protein engineering efforts, translating process bottlenecks into enzyme engineering targets and back‑integrating improved variants
  
• Contribute broadly across the organization: at this stage of the company, the most impactful team members bring their expertise to problems beyond their core scope
  
• Strong communication skills and ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional and dynamic environment across a variety of programs

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in biochemistry, chemical engineering, organic chemistry, or a related field with a strong catalysis, biocatalysis or heterogeneous catalysis focus
  
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in process development including scale up, continuous improvements and commercial catalyst development
  
• Demonstrated ability to improve process performance against real commercial targets, including yield, cost, throughput, not just feasibility
  
• Experience with techno‑economic modeling and process analytical tools
  
• Familiarity with DOE‑driven development and comfort using data systematically to guide decisions
  
• Experience working across disciplines, including protein engineering, analytical chemistry, and engineering, and translating between scientific and commercial priorities
  
• Prior experience at a biocatalysis‑focused company, CDMO, or industrial process chemistry group strongly preferred
  
• Comfort operating in an early‑stage environment with limited resources, ambiguity, and ambitious goals

About Cascade Biocatalysts

Cascade Bio is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace and strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

At Cascade Biocatalysts, we are commercializing our Body Armor for Enzymes, a polymer science innovation that makes enzymes rugged and reliable for cost‑effective biomanufacturing. Our platform unlocks the power of enzymes to replace traditional, unsustainable chemical processes and supports the buildout of a resilient and clean chemical industry.

We are a small and growing team, passionate about bridging biology and chemistry to build the future of manufacturing. If you're excited to bring enzymes out of the lab and into the world — we’d like to meet you.