Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Education assistance

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated metabolic and bioprocess engineer. This role involves engineering microbial pathways and optimizing biomanufacturing processes, contributing to national security solutions.

Applicants should possess a PhD in a relevant field and substantial wet lab experience. Responsibilities include leading projects, developing new opportunities, and addressing challenges in molecular biology.

The role offers a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits including health insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field.
• Extensive wet lab experience in microbial metabolism.
• 2+ years experience with analytical chemistry techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize metabolic pathways.
• Lead research projects in biomanufacturing.
• Collaborate with internal teams for project execution.

Skills

Microbial metabolic engineering

Biomanufacturing process engineering

Analytical chemistry techniques

Molecular biology techniques

Leadership skills

Education

PhD in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology or similar

Tools

HPLC

GC/MS

LC/MS

Job description

Overview

Do you marvel at the complexity of metabolism and seek to leverage natural metabolisms in creative ways to develop new technologies? Do you want to apply your expertise in biomanufacturing process engineering to pressing National Security challenges? Do you love contributing your microbial metabolic engineering and downstream processing subject matter expertise to an interdisciplinary team of scientists, focused on developing novel applications? If you answered yes to these questions, we're looking for someone like you to join our team in the Biological Sciences Group, here at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.

We are seeking a highly motivated metabolic and bioprocess engineer to contribute to a team focused on engineering microbial metabolic pathways and optimizing biomanufacturing processes, including upstream and downstream processing. As part of the Biological Sciences Group, in the Research Exploratory Development Department, you will be at the forefront of APL's mission to provide impactful contributions to critical challenges. You will contribute to building outstanding expertise in molecular biology, in the pursuit of challenges in national security.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and characterize recombinant metabolic pathways in microbial organisms.
• Design, implement, and optimize biomanufacturing processes.
• Lead projects and teams for both internally funded and externally funded efforts in the research areas mentioned above.
• Support new business development activities to expand program scope within the Research and Exploratory Development Department and other business areas across APL, including concept development, proposal writing, and project execution.
• Work with a technical team providing leadership in the development of new opportunities and support internal initiatives, driving technical innovation and growth in areas relevant to APL sponsors.
• Participate in the broader APL community by presenting data to interdisciplinary groups and to department management.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you:

• Have a PhD in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology or a similar field.
• Have extensive wet lab experience manipulating the metabolism of microbes and in scaling metabolite synthesis and downstream processing.
• Have 2+ years experience with analytical chemistry techniques and equipment including: HPLC, GC/MS, or LC/MS.
• Are proficient in molecular biology techniques, including DNA manipulation and plasmid construction, qPCR, protein analysis, plate-reader assay development, microscopy techniques, and microbial cell culture.
• Have experience designing, executing, and troubleshooting a wide range of biological assays.
• Possess strong leadership skills, including excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through a combination of publication record, teaching, and professional experience.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Have experience working with non-lab adapted or anaerobic microbes, including such as Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Have experience with yeast, plant, algae, or microbiome systems.

Benefits

APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development.

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

Salary

Minimum Rate: $105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $290,000 Annually