Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab is seeking a highly motivated Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer to contribute to our Biological Sciences Group. You'll engineer microbial metabolic pathways and optimize biomanufacturing processes, impacting critical challenges in national security.

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD and have extensive lab experience with microbes and analytical techniques. This role involves leading innovative projects and developing effective collaborations.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications: Have a PhD in a relevant field.
• Extensive wet lab experience manipulating the metabolism of microbes.
• 2+ years experience with analytical chemistry techniques.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize biomanufacturing processes.
• Lead projects in metabolic engineering.
• Support business development activities.

Skills

Molecular biology techniques

Analytical chemistry techniques

Leadership skills

Wet lab experience

Microbial cell culture

Education

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

Tools

HPLC

GC/MS

LC/MS

Job description

Description

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.

As a Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer

• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• 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. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.

You’ll go above and beyond

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

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].

Compensation

Minimum Rate: $105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $290,000 Annually