Upstream Bioprocess Associate

ACL Digital; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ACL Digital in Foster City, CA is seeking an Associate Scientist - Biology II for a 12-month contract to advance pilot-scale upstream bioprocesses in a collaborative biologics lab.

You will run seed trains, bioreactors (100 L and 500 L), perform routine cell culture activities, prepare media and buffers, and maintain Batch records in Benchling with rigorous data integrity.

Qualifications

• Hands-on upstream cell culture at bench, pilot, or manufacturing scale.
• Strong written documentation skills (SOPs, batch records).
• Experience with pilot-scale bioprocess and single-use systems.
• Comfort with data summaries and technical writing.

Responsibilities

• Prepare media, buffers, and reagents; set up equipment and teardown.
• Execute daily upstream activities including bioreactor sampling and feeding.
• Maintain accurate batch records in Benchling and related SOPs.
• Troubleshoot pilot runs, support tech transfer and process improvement.
• Monitor process performance and communicate data-driven conclusions.

Skills

Upstream cell culture

SOPs & batch records

Data presentation

Pilot-scale bioprocess

WAVE systems

Single-use bioreactors

Education

BS/BE in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, or related field

AA/AS with >4 years experience

Tools

Benchling

Job description

Job Title: Associate Scientist - Biology II (Long Term Contract-Temporary)

Job Duration: 12 months contract

Location: Foster City, CA(Fully Onsite)

Description:

Onsite Position - Foster City 5 days/week with occasional weekends as needed.

Upstream Bioprocess Associate (Contract)

Cell Culture & Single-Use Bioreactors | Foster City, CA | 100% onsite | Contract: 12 months from start date

I’m looking for a hands-on upstream bioprocess professional to join Client’s Biologics Pilot Lab in Foster City on a contract basis. This is an opportunity to run pilot-scale cell culture processes, solve real-time operational challenges, and support biologics development programs in a highly collaborative environment.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

Work directly with pilot-scale upstream operations, including seed train shake flasks, WAVE systems, and 100 L and 500 L single-use bioreactors.

Build broad experience across process execution, troubleshooting, technology transfer, and continuous improvement.

Contribute to biologics programs spanning early- and late-stage development, with visibility into how pilot-scale work supports the broader pipeline.

Enjoy a contract of 12 months from start date, with room to take on more independence quickly in a fast-paced, schedule-driven pilot environment.

What You’ll Do

Prepare media, buffers, and reagents; set up equipment; and support post-run teardown and cleaning.

Execute routine upstream activities, including daily bioreactor sampling, feeding, and end-to-end run support.

Maintain accurate, timely documentation in SOPs, Benchling batch records, run summaries, deviations, observations, and change notes.

Troubleshoot issues during pilot runs and help maintain equipment, inventory, analytical support, and overall lab readiness.

Support technology transfers, monitor process performance, and communicate clear data summaries and conclusions.

What You’ll Bring

Hands-on upstream cell culture experience at bench, pilot, or manufacturing scale (e.g., shake flasks, bioreactors, media and buffer preparation).

Clear technical writing and documentation habits (e.g., SOPs, batch records, run summaries), plus confidence presenting data and conclusions.

An organized, collaborative, solutions-focused approach in a schedule-driven environment, with a strong commitment to safety and data integrity.

Strongly Preferred

Pilot lab, pilot plant, or pilot-scale bioprocess experience, including WAVE systems or single-use bioreactors.

Nice to Have

End-to-end upstream process execution across multiple unit operations.

Technology transfer, manufacturing support, or GMP/GMP-adjacent work.

Education

AA/AS with more than four years of relevant industry experience, or

BS/BE in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related field with more than two years of relevant experience.

About the Team

You’ll join a ten-person team of scientists producing pilot-scale biologics material for early and late development programs. The team also troubleshoots and improves processes and introduces new technologies that expand site capability, capacity, and efficiency.