Senior Scientist – Process Development

The Opportunity:Avantor is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Scientist to lead and support process development initiatives and manufacturing operations for excipients and reagents.
This role requires deep expertise in chemical engineering principles, mammalian cell culture, and bioreactor-based process development. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in designing scalable processes, supporting tech transfer, and resolving on-the-floor manufacturing challenges. A Ph.D. in Chemical, Biochemical, or Biomedical Engineering or related field is required.

What we’re looking for 

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related field (required).

• Minimum of 5+ years of industry experience in mammalian cell culture-based bioprocess development and GMP manufacturing support. Doctoral or relevant academic experience can be counted as equivalent experience to industry experience.

• Strong knowledge of bioreactor operations, including design, scale-up, control strategies, and troubleshooting.

• Proficiency in chemical process principles such as mixing, heat transfer, and reaction engineering as applied to biologics production.

• Familiarity with single-use or multi-use bioreactor systems, aseptic operations, and automation platforms.

• Excellent problem-solving, technical writing, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with continuous bioprocessing, process modeling, or chemical processing

• Exposure to downstream processing (filtration, chromatography) and integration with upstream.

• Familiarity with ICH, FDA, and EMA guidelines for biologics manufacturing.

• Demonstrated experience with QbD, DoE, and statistical tools (e.g., JMP, Minitab).

How you will thrive and create an impact 

Process Development

• Design, develop, and optimize mammalian cell culture processes in bench-scale and pilot-scale bioreactors, including fed-batch and perfusion modes.

• Apply chemical engineering fundamentals (mass transfer, kinetics, thermodynamics) to scale up unit operations effectively and predictably.

• Support media/feed strategy development, metabolic analysis, and process parameter optimization for improved productivity and product quality.

• Collaborate with analytical teams to interpret process data, perform root cause analysis, and drive data-based decisions.

• Author technical development reports, risk assessments, and regulatory documentation

Manufacturing Support

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert (SME) during GMP manufacturing campaigns, providing on-the-floor support and troubleshooting.

• Participate in deviation investigations, CAPAs, and change controls related to cell culture and bioprocess equipment.

• Drive technology transfer of processes from development labs to GMP facilities, ensuring proper documentation, training, and scale-up readiness.

• Support validation activities, including process performance qualification (PPQ) and equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ).

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.
 
The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.
 
We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!

Pay Transparency:

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is

$112,400.00 - $187,400.00

Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement:

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy:

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with company match, and an employee stock purchase program. Employees also receive 11 paid holidays, accrue 18 PTO days annually, are eligible for volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave). These benefits may not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement or those subject to other eligibility rules.