Process Development Scientist - Biologics

Placements24; Benoni; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical and retirement benefits

Generous paid time off

State-of-the-art laboratory facilities

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a skilled Process Development Scientist with expertise in biologics to join its R&D team in Benoni. You will optimize and scale up manufacturing processes for biologic drug substances, focusing on robust, reproducible production.

The role involves cell line development, upstream and downstream process optimization, and technology transfer to manufacturing, contributing to life-changing biologic therapies in Gauteng.

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in chemical engineering, biotechnology, or biochemistry required.
• Minimum 3 years in biologics process development.
• Strong knowledge of cell culture, purification and downstream processing.
• Experience with process scale-up and tech transfer.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale-up upstream and downstream processes for biologics.
• Characterize and improve cell culture performance and product yield.
• Design purification strategies for recombinant proteins and other biologics.
• Troubleshoot process deviations and ensure consistent product quality.
• Develop analytical methods for process monitoring and product characterization.
• Collaborate with manufacturing for tech transfer and validation activities.

Skills

Cell culture

Fermentation

Protein purification

Downstream processing

Analytical techniques (HPLC, ELISA,SDS

Education

Ph.D. or MSc in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or related

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a skilled Process Development Scientist with expertise in biologics to join their innovative research and development team in Benoni . This role is central to optimizing and scaling up manufacturing processes for novel biologic drug substances, ensuring efficient, robust, and reproducible production. You will be involved in cell line development, upstream and downstream process optimization, and technology transfer to manufacturing. The ideal candidate has a strong scientific background in biotechnology and a proven ability to solve complex process challenges, contributing to the development of life-changing biologic therapies for patients in the Gauteng province .

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale-up upstream and downstream processes for biologic drug substance manufacturing.
• Perform experiments to characterize and improve cell culture performance and product yield.
• Design and execute purification strategies for recombinant proteins and other biologics.
• Troubleshoot process deviations and implement solutions to ensure consistent product quality.
• Develop and optimize analytical methods for process monitoring and product characterization.
• Collaborate with manufacturing teams to support technology transfer and process validation activities.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in biologics process development , preferably in a pharmaceutical or biotech setting.
• Strong understanding of cell culture, fermentation, protein purification, and downstream processing techniques.
• Experience with process scale-up and technology transfer.
• Proficiency in relevant analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, ELISA, SDS-PAGE).
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and strong experimental design skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus opportunities.
• Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave policies.
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and cutting-edge technology.
• A stimulating work environment focused on scientific innovation and career growth.