Process Development Associate (Formulations)

Watchmaker Genomics, Inc.; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellness benefits

Pension plan

Flexible time off

Employee assistance program

WIEM & WOUCHee committees

Job summary

Watchmaker Genomics is seeking a Process Development Associate (Formulations) to join our Cape Town team. You will design and transfer reagent manufacturing processes, collaborating with R&D, Production, IT and QA to deliver high-quality products from concept to launch.

The role emphasizes translating product requirements into scalable processes, ensuring CPPs/CQAs are met, and contributing to robust documentation and standard operating procedures. On-site in Cape Town, South Africa.

Qualifications

• BSc/BEng in Process/Chemical Engineering with 0-2+ years experience in process engineering or biotechnology.
• MSc in molecular biology/enzymology or related field with 2+ years industry experience in process development.
• Experience with documentation, training, and SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Translate product requirements into process specifications and develop scalable reagent manufacturing processes.
• Contribute to process, equipment, and computer systems validation and documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, Production, IT, and Quality Assurance across global sites.
• Support on-market products by investigating process-related issues through data analysis.

Skills

Systems thinking

Scientific excellence

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Organization & attention to detail

Self-motivation

Communication skills

Education

BSc/BEng in Process/Chemical Engineering

MSc in molecular biology/enzymology

Tools

PCR & NGS techniques

DOE/SPC methods

Scale-up knowledge

Job description

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CAREERS

Join our Team: Where Talent meets Purpose

We’re driven by a mission to advance genomic science and empower our team with an exceptional work environment. We don’t just offer jobs – we provide careers with purpose. Below, explore the perks of being part of a team that values you and your contributions. Check out our open positions.

Our Culture

Everyone is responsible for maintaining a positive and inclusive culture, but our leaders help set that tone. We believe that good leaders serve their employees — not the other way around. Leaders at Watchmaker don’t just manage — they mentor, collaborate, guide, and empower their teams to thrive. When our leaders serve their teams, innovation (and fun!) follow naturally.

Our Core Values

Be a rock star

We're here to make an impact.

Be a leader

We value feedback, support each other's work, learn from mistakes, and celebrate wins.

Be passionate

We bring the energy, drive, and
curiosity to push boundaries.

Be authentic

We build trust and accountability
through honesty and transparency.

Sound like a place you'd like to work?

One’s success is everyone’s success.
We don’t step over one another to get ahead,
but rather support each other to succeed together.

-- A real employee

Benefits and Perks *

We invest in our people just as much as we invest in cutting-edge science. With robust benefits, a culture of innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, you’ll find more than just a job – you’ll find a place to grow and make a real difference.

Health & Wellness

Comprehensive health benefits (U.S.)

50% Medical Aid Coverage (S.A.)

100% coverage for vision and dental care

Equal coverage for employees
and their families

Access to Flexible Spending Accounts
for medical and dependent care needs

Financial Growth and Security

401(k) with 4% company match (U.S.)

Pension fund contribution
with a 4% company match (SA)

Disability and life insurance
to secure your future

Competitive stock options to share
in our success

Bonus and commission opportunities
to reward your hard work

Work-Life Balance

Flexible time off to recharge and thrive (U.S.)

>20 days leave per year (S.A.)

Paid holidays tailored to your location

Employee Assistance Program
for mental health and well-being

Community & Camaraderie

Employee-led teams focused on
giving back and having fun:

Watchmaker Institute for Entertainment
and Merrymaking (WIEM)

Watchmaker Outreach Committee
(WOUCHee)

* Benefits may differ by region. Details shown apply to our United States and South African based employees.

Process Development Associate (Formulations)

Cape Town, South Africa

Position: Process Development Associate

Focus Area: Formulations

Position Type: Full-Time Employee

Location: Cape Town, South Africa (on-site)

Experience: Minimum BSc/BEng in Process/Chemical Engineering with 0 - 2+ years relevant experience in process engineering or biotechnology

Company Summary

Watchmaker Genomics is a global life sciences company with R&D and Production facilities in Cape Town, South Africa, and headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. Our team is driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to collaboration, creativity, and scientific rigour. We believe that the intersection of biology, engineering, and computer science offers exciting opportunities to develop novel technologies that advance research and enhance human health. We leverage our enzyme engineering and computational biology capabilities to develop products that support high-growth applications in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and personalised medicine.

Position Summary

We are seeking an R&D Associate to join our Process Development team in Cape Town, South Africa.

As part of the Process Development team, you will apply your expertise in process engineering to design and transfer reagent manufacturing processes. You will contribute directly in delivering high-quality, innovative products to our customers. In this highly collaborative role, you will work closely with various departments, including R&D, Production, IT, and Quality Assurance across our global sites.

Key Responsibilities

The Process Development team supports the transfer of new products from R&D to manufacturing. This involves translating product requirements into process specifications and developing efficient, scalable processes to meet these needs. After product launch, the team provides ongoing support for process updates to maintain product quality.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Identifying critical process parameters (CPPs) that ensure critical-to-quality attributes (CQAs) are consistently achieved.
• Assisting in developing or adapting processes to meet CPPs by investigating new methods, equipment and controls, and confirming suitability through experimentation.
• Identifying opportunities for process streamlining, standardization, and alignment with industry best practices.
• Planning and executing assigned project deliverables and proactively communicating status and outcomes.
• Contributing to process, equipment, and computer systems validation, as well as material qualification, by establishing clear, testable specifications based on CPPs and CQAs, along with associated experimental planning.
• Identifying and documenting process risks, assessing potential impacts, and developing appropriate mitigations.
• Contributing to robust, rigorous experimental design for the development and testing of new processes and comprehensively document outcomes.
• Having a working understanding of the ISO13485 standard and internal standard operating procedures (SOPs) to effectively apply these principles.
• Supporting on-market products by investigating process-related issues through data trending, analysis, or experimentation.
• Authoring and revising work instructions, batch record templates, and other production-facing documentation that is clear and concise to ensure reproducible results.
• Preparing training materials and conducting classroom and on-the-job training of operators on new or revised procedures.

Required skills

• Predisposition for systems-level thinking, as applied to designing and implementing robust, scalable processes for reagent manufacturing.
• Demonstrated scientific excellence in technical work, written communication and presenting technical information to groups with various scientific backgrounds.
• Adaptability, curiosity and ability to grasp and apply new concepts quickly.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Commitment to a culture of excellence and advocacy for continuous improvement.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an excellent ability to drive results in multi-level, cross-functional teams.
• Excellent organizational skills and outstanding attention to detail.
• Strong personal task management skills and a high level of self-motivation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Advantageous skills

• Technical understanding of and/or experience with:
• PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques, and basic protein biochemistry (e.g., physical properties, experimental methods, enzyme kinetics, etc.).
• Mid-scale life science reagent manufacturing and scale-up.
• Analytical measurement methods and assessing process capabilities, using statistical techniques such as Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) or Gauge Repeatability & Reproducibility (Gauge R&R).
• Designing and monitoring processes using statistical methods such as Design of Experiments (DOE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• General statistical techniques such as regression analysis and significance testing (e.g., Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-tests).
• Risk management and hazard analysis frameworks or tools, such as Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• ISO 9001 and/or ISO 13485 standards or operating within a structured quality management system (QMS).

Requirements

• BSc/BEng in Process/Chemical Engineering with 0 - 2+ years relevant experience in process engineering or biotechnology

OR

• MSc in molecular biology/enzymology or related fields with 2+ years demonstrated industry experience in process development

Application Requirements

To apply for the position, please submit the following in a PDF format on watchmakergenomics.com:

• Letter of motivation (upload where it says cover letter)
• Resume or Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Local candidates preferred.

To ensure your application is considered, please submit it byFriday, 23 October 2026. Please note that this position may close earlier if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

South Africa - We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if currently eligible to work in South Africa; and if now or in the future will require visa sponsorship to continue working in South Africa.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable laws.