Process Engineer

Visible Hands; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Cascade Biocatalysts in Denver seeks a hands-on Process Development Scientist to build and lead our process development, intensification, and scale-up efforts from bench to commercial scale.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in catalysis and biocatalysis, thrives in a small, fast-moving team, and will own process metrics, TE modeling, and cross-functional collaboration with protein engineering and chemistry teams.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS in biochemistry, chemical engineering, organic chemistry, or related field with catalysis focus.
• At least 4 years of process development including scale up and commercial catalyst development.
• Proven ability to improve process performance against commercial targets (yield, cost, throughput).
• Experience with techno-economic modeling and process analytical tools.
• Familiarity with DOE-driven development and data-guided decisions.
• Experience across disciplines including protein engineering and analytical chemistry.
• Prior experience at a biocatalysis-focused company, CDMO, or industrial process chemistry preferred.
• Comfort operating in an early-stage environment with 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

Process development

Scale-up

DOE-driven development

Techno-economic modeling

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Analytical chemistry

Biocatalysis

Team leadership

Education

PhD or MS in biochemistry, chemical engineering, organic chemistry, or related field with catalysis focus

Tools

Process analytical technology

Data-driven decision making tools

Job description

Job Title: Process Engineer

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.