Senior Scientist: Microbiology & Process Leadership

BD; Cockeysville (MD); On-site; USD 96,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

BD in Sparks, MD is seeking a Senior Scientist to provide technical leadership and hands‑on support for process engineering activities, with emphasis on Phoenix ID/AST and Sensi Disc product sustaining, manufacturing support, and quality investigations.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences and at least 5 years of laboratory or manufacturing experience, along with strong microbiology skills and technical writing capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of laboratory, microbiology, manufacturing support, quality, or process engineering experience in Life Science or a related discipline.
• Strong knowledge of microbiology laboratory techniques, Phoenix ID/AST testing, Sensi Disc testing, product support investigations, and manufacturing support activities.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and lead testing plans, stability schedules, qualification activities, and laboratory workflows across multiple simultaneous projects.

Responsibilities

• Leads and supports Phoenix ID/AST and Sensi Disc product sustaining activities, including manufacturing investigations, QC issue resolution, complaint investigation testing, and technical support for operations.
• Designs, coordinates, executes, and documents experimental studies, pilot testing, qualification activities, stability testing, and investigational testing to support product performance, process changes, and business continuity.
• Collects, reviews, analyzes, and interprets scientific data to support product disposition, recommendation memos, specification changes, overage changes, change controls, and final reports.
• Provides technical leadership for cross‑functional teams supporting new product development, product sustainability, supply continuity, cost improvement, and process optimization initiatives.
• Coordinates laboratory schedules, testing plans, resource needs, sample submission, and follow‑up activities to ensure project timelines and manufacturing support needs are met.
• Troubleshoots complex technical issues related to media, panels, broths, indicators, raw materials, QC failures, customer complaints, and manufacturing process variability.
• Prepares and reviews technical documentation, including investigation summaries, recommendation memos, product disposition justifications, change control inputs, test strategies, stability reports, and SAP or manufacturing documentation.
• Collaborates with Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Manufacturing, QC, Supply Chain, and external vendors to resolve issues, align on testing strategies, and implement sustainable solutions.
• Supports continuous improvement and cost avoidance initiatives by identifying process gaps, developing working plans, organizing data reviews, and contributing actionable improvement recommendations.
• Performs tasks with minimal supervision while demonstrating strong organization, initiative, technical judgment, and accountability for assigned deliverables.
• Demonstrates the ability to follow established procedures according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Must follow all BD housekeeping, safety, and compliance policies and procedures.

Skills

Microbiology techniques

Phoenix ID/AST testing

Sensi Disc testing

Technical writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences

Tools

SAP

Job description

BD in Sparks, MD is seeking a Senior Scientist to provide technical leadership and hands‑on support for process engineering activities, with emphasis on Phoenix ID/AST and Sensi Disc product sustaining, manufacturing support, and quality investigations.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences and at least 5 years of laboratory or manufacturing experience, along with strong microbiology skills and technical writing capabilities.