Senior Downstream Process Engineer, Biotechnology Scale-Up

Debut; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Debut seeks a Staff Process Engineer to lead downstream processing for fermentation-derived cosmetic actives. You will guide a team of scientists through bench to manufacturing scale, own technology transfer to CDMOs/CMOs, and drive cross-functional collaboration with QA, regulatory, and supply chain. Travel ~20% is expected.

The role requires deep expertise in DSP, strong leadership, and experience in scaling processes from lab to production.

Qualifications

• PhD or MS/BS with extensive downstream DSP experience across bench, pilot, and manufacturing scales.
• Proven track record in downstream unit operations (centrifugation, filtration, distillation, precipitation, chromatography, liquid–liquid extraction, crystallization, drying).
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring scientists/engineers.

Responsibilities

• Direct the development of downstream purification processes from bench scale through manufacturing scale (tons per year).
• Provide hands-on expertise across downstream unit operations (centrifugation, filtration, distillation, precipitation, chromatography, liquid–liquid extraction, crystallization, drying).
• Establish and maintain a flexible DSP laboratory for rapid process development and tech transfer.
• Evaluate and manage CDMO/CMO partnerships; author RFPs, review vendor proposals, and conduct site visits.

Skills

Downstream processing

CDMO/CMO management

Tech transfer

Project management

Mentoring team

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic leadership

Scale-up experience

Education

PhD

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Centrifugation

Filtration

Distillation

Precipitation

Chromatography

Liquid-liquid extraction

Crystallization

Drying

Job description

Debut seeks a Staff Process Engineer to lead downstream processing for fermentation-derived cosmetic actives. You will guide a team of scientists through bench to manufacturing scale, own technology transfer to CDMOs/CMOs, and drive cross-functional collaboration with QA, regulatory, and supply chain. Travel ~20% is expected.

The role requires deep expertise in DSP, strong leadership, and experience in scaling processes from lab to production.