Senior Process Engineer - Biotechnology Manufacturing

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package

Health insurance

Retirement fund contributions

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art facility

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Process Engineer to optimize and scale bioprocesses for biopharmaceutical production in Polokwane, Limpopo. The role focuses on design, troubleshooting, and transfer of processes for novel therapeutics, with a strong GMP framework driving development across R&D and manufacturing teams.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in biopharma process development, expertise in fermentation, cell culture, and downstream purification, and excellent problem-solving and leadership

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Biochemical/ Chemical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 6 years in biopharma process development and manufacturing.
• Experience with fermentation, cell culture, and downstream purification."
• Strong GMP knowledge and CAPA experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize bioprocesses for fermentation and cell culture, ensuring scalability and robustness.
• Oversee downstream purification processes, including chromatography, filtration, and ultrafiltration.
• Develop and execute process validation protocols, ensuring GMP compliance.
• Lead process transfer activities from development to manufacturing scale.
• Conduct process hazard analyses and implement safety measures.
• Collaborate with R&D, QA, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless integration of processes.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.

Skills

Bioprocess engineering

Process scale-up

GMP compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Biochemical/ Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process simulation software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in the biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Process Engineer to join their dynamic team. This position is located in Polokwane, Limpopo , and involves optimizing and scaling up bioprocesses for the production of novel therapeutics. You will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting manufacturing processes, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with stringent regulatory standards (GMP). The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in biochemical engineering, fermentation, downstream processing, and process validation. This role requires excellent problem-solving skills, a collaborative spirit, and the ability to lead cross-functional project teams. Join our innovative client in Polokwane and contribute to the production of life-changing biologics.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize bioprocesses for fermentation and cell culture, ensuring scalability and robustness.
• Oversee downstream purification processes, including chromatography, filtration, and ultrafiltration.
• Develop and execute process validation protocols, ensuring compliance with GMP regulations.
• Troubleshoot process deviations and implement corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).
• Lead process transfer activities from development to manufacturing scale.
• Conduct process hazard analyses and implement appropriate safety measures.
• Analyze process data, identify areas for improvement, and implement efficiency gains.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of processes.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in biopharmaceutical process development and manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of fermentation, cell culture, and downstream purification technologies.
• Proven experience with process scale-up, validation, and GMP compliance.
• Proficiency in process simulation and modeling software is a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong project management and leadership abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration in Polokwane .
• Experience with aseptic processing techniques.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, performance-based incentives, and a comprehensive benefits program.
• This includes robust health insurance, retirement fund contributions, and generous paid time off.
• We are committed to the professional development of our employees, providing opportunities for advanced training, conference attendance, and career advancement.
• Employees work within a state-of-the‑art manufacturing facility and benefit from a collaborative and forward‑thinking work environment.
• This role offers a significant opportunity to contribute to the production of vital biopharmaceuticals from Polokwane .