Scientist II, Upstream Polysaccharide Process Development (Microbial Fermentation)

Location: San Carlos, California, United States. Onsite, with a minimum of 4 days per week onsite.

Salary: $146,000–$171,000 per year, plus benefits and equity.

Company

hirify.global develops biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing processes, including polysaccharide-based products.

What you will do

• Design, execute, analyze, and document microbial fermentation studies for upstream polysaccharide process development, optimization, characterization, scale-up, and vaccine production.
• Develop and troubleshoot fermentation processes, operating parameters, bioreactors, microbial media, and process analytical technologies to improve yield, quality, consistency, and robustness.
• Operate and maintain fermentation and automation systems, including Ambr®250, and develop automation scripts where needed.
• Investigate anomalous results and process variability using root-cause experimentation, statistical tools, Design of Experiments, and data analysis.
• Support process characterization, raw material evaluations, technology transfer, manufacturing support, technical investigations, and integration of upstream, downstream, and analytical data.
• Lead assigned project activities, guide junior team members, author technical and regulatory-supporting documentation, and present findings to cross-functional stakeholders and external partners.

Requirements

• PhD with 2–5 years of industry experience, MS with 7+ years, or BS/BA with 10+ years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience; equivalent combinations may be considered.
• Independent experience designing, executing, analyzing, and documenting microbial fermentation and upstream process development studies.
• Strong knowledge of microbial fermentation, process development, scale-up/scale-down, process optimization, bioreactor operations, and related analytical technologies.
• Experience with fermenters, microbial media, Ambr®250 or similar automation systems, JMP, statistical analysis, and Design of Experiments.
• Working knowledge of GMP requirements and regulatory-supporting documentation, with experience working with BSL-2 organisms.
• Strong scientific writing, data presentation, technical leadership, troubleshooting, prioritization, and cross-functional communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with process characterization, technology transfer, manufacturing support, or raw material qualification.
• Experience with cell banking, colony selection, and microbial strain characterization.
• Experience working with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Escherichia coli.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative work across Process Development, Analytical Development, Formulation Development, manufacturing, and external partner teams.
• Hands-on laboratory work in a fast-paced biotechnology environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package and equity component.
• Equal opportunity employment.