Senior Scientist, Culture Process Development

Pfizer; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Eligible for Employee Referral

Job summary

Pfizer is seeking a Senior Scientist in Upstream Process Development to advance recombinant protein manufacturing processes for clinical trials. You will design bench-scale experiments, lead upstream activities, and ensure successful technology transfer to pilot and GMP facilities.

You will document data, author technical sections, and contribute to regulatory filings such as IND/BLA. The role requires strong collaboration across teams, rapid problem solving, and a drive to innovate process

Qualifications

• PhD/MS/BS with significant post-degree experience in biotech/biopharma
• Experience developing scalable mammalian cell culture processes
• Strong aseptic technique and data analysis skills
• Ability to design complex experiments and interpret results
• Effective communication in a matrixed organization

Responsibilities

• Design and execute scale-down experiments to develop robust, high-yield processes
• Lead upstream activities and ensure technology transfer to GMP facilities
• Document data in ELNs and author technical/regulatory sections
• Collaborate in project teams to interpret data and drive decisions
• Support weekend tasks and travel as needed

Skills

Experimental design

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Data interpretation

Education

PhD in Biotechnology/Biopharma

MS in related field

BS in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering

Tools

ambr15

ambr250

Python

Job description

What You Will Achieve

A Senior Scientist (R 4 ) position is available in the Upstream Process Development group within the Bioprocess R&D organization. The successful applicant will join a team of scientists and engineers focused on developing and optimizing manufacturing processes for recombinant proteins and other modalities for early- and late-phase human clinical trials. In this role, the candidate will be responsible for designing and executing laboratory experiments in bench-top bioreactors and associated scale-down equipment with the goal of developing robust, scalable, and high productivity processes. The work will also involve collaborating with pilot, clinical, and commercial production facilities to ensure accurate technology transfer, successful large-scale production and associated regulatory filing activities. The candidate may also be involved in cutting edge technology development projects that seek to improve production processes and control strategies leveraging various process analytical technologies.

How You Will Achieve It

• Design and execute experiments in appropriate scale-down models in an effort to develop robust, high yield, and scalable manufacturing processes
• Serve as upstream technical lead; ensure accurate technology transfer to pilot and GMP manufacturing facilities; provide technical support during manufacturing campaign as needed
• Timely and accurately document data in electronic lab notebooks; author technical reports and contribute to relevant sections of regulatory submissions such as IND and BLA
• Participate and contribute to discussions in lab and project team meetings on design of experiments and interpretation of data
• Contribute to safe, efficient, and harmonious lab environment; strong lab citizen and collaborative team player
• Occasionally work over the weekend to passage flasks, sample bioreactors or perform other essential tasks

QUALIFICATIONS

Must Have

• PhD degree with 0-3 years of experience in biotechnology/biopharma industry or Master's Degree with 7+ years of post-graduate experience or BA /BS with 9 + years of experience with a degree in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Microbiology or relevant field
• Experience in development and characterization of cost effective, scalable mammalian cell culture processes for therapeutics production ; process intensification and continuous manufacturing ; Scale-up/scale-down of cell culture processes
• Good understanding of reactions involved in metabolic pathways and process kinetics in mammalian cells
• Competency in aseptic laboratory technique, ability to design complex experiments, analyze and interpret data
• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of working independently and in a collaborative environment and should have demonstrated ability to drive projects by coming up with innovative solutions
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail, and strong oral and written communication skills
• Has ability to work in a fast-paced team environment with changing priorities
• Demonstrated effectiveness in collaborative projects, and ability to communicate effectively with scientists and management in a highly matrixed organization
• Demonstrated passion for innovation and a creative approach to developing new technologies

Nice To Have

• Expertise in perfusion bioreactor operations, including process setup, control, troubleshooting of mammalian cell culture processes
• Hands-on experience with high-throughput bioreactors platforms, including ambr15 and ambr250 systems
• E xpertise in process modeling , CF D , multivariate data analysis, and AI/ML-based predictive modeling to support process characterization and enhance process understanding
• Proficiency in Python programming, workflow automation, and software/app development to create scalable tools for experimental design, data processing, advanced analytics, visualization, and knowledge-sharing across process development organizations

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Lifting, sitting, standing, walking, bending, ability to perform mathematical calculations and ability to perform complex data analysis

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

May require occasional work on the weekend for cell culture process - related essential tasks

May need to travel occasionally to attend internal meetings or external conferences

Other Job Details

Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Eligible for Employee Referral

Relocation support may be available based on business need and eligibility

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations . These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure . Subject to further legal review and statutor