SRG
Senior Scientist
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Senior Scientist – Microbial Upstream Process Development
Darlington | Permanent | £34,500 – £46,500
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Scientist with experience within Microbial Upstream process development to join a growing bioprocessing team, providing technical leadership across customer-facing biologics development projects.
This is a senior scientific role focused on technical project leadership rather than line management. You'll lead and coordinate microbial upstream process development activities, working closely with customers, project managers, commercial teams, and scientific colleagues to deliver innovative biologics programmes.
The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in microbial fermentation, process development, and scale-up, alongside the ability to work across functions and confidently engage with external stakeholders.
What You'll Be Responsible For
Microbial Upstream Process Development
- Lead the design, development, optimisation, and scale-up of microbial upstream processes for biologics production
- Support the development of processes for products such as:
- Recombinant proteins
- Antibodies and biologic products
- Other microbial-expressed therapeutic molecules
- Apply expertise across microbial fermentation, strain development, and bioreactor operations
Technical Project Leadership
- Act as the technical lead for small to medium-sized development projects
- Coordinate activities across scientific, project management, and commercial functions
- Ensure technical work packages are delivered to scope, quality, and timeline requirements
- Provide scientific guidance and support to project teams and junior colleagues
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Scale-Up & Technology Development
- Develop and scale bioprocesses from high-throughput systems through laboratory and pilot-scale bioreactors
- Support technology evaluation, optimisation, and implementation activities
- Apply experimental design and statistical approaches to process development and optimisation
- Evaluate data and translate findings into practical development solutions
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a primary technical contact for customers and collaborators
- Present scientific data and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders
- Build strong relationships with customers, partners, and multidisciplinary teams
- Support successful delivery of customer-funded and collaborative development programmes
Business Development & Innovation
- Contribute technical expertise to proposal development and work-winning activities
- Support customer discussions and identification of new opportunities
- Help shape future technical capabilities and scientific strategy within the team
- Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry developments
About You
You are an experienced bioprocess scientist with strong technical expertise and the ability to lead projects through influence rather than direct line management.
You'll bring:
- A PhD, postdoctoral experience, or equivalent industrial experience in biotechnology, microbiology, bioprocessing, or a related discipline
- Strong expertise in microbial fermentation for biologics production
- Experience working with microbial expression systems, ideally E. coli and/or Pichia pastoris
- Proven experience developing and scaling bioprocesses from high-throughput systems through laboratory and pilot-scale bioreactors
- Strong experimental design, data analysis, and process optimisation skills
- Experience leading technical projects and delivering complex scientific programmes
- Ability to work across scientific, project management, and commercial teams
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- Commercial awareness and an interest in supporting customer engagement and proposal development
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Desirable Experience
- Industrial R&D or technology development experience
- Experience within a CRO, CDMO, biotech, or innovation-led environment
- Knowledge of technology transfer and commercialisation activities
- Experience in collaborative R&D or grant-funded programmes
- Experience working with recombinant proteins, antibodies, or other biologics
- Familiarity with GMP environments and biopharmaceutical development
Why Join Us?
- Lead innovative microbial bioprocess development projects
- Work directly with customers developing next-generation biologics
- Gain exposure to a broad range of technologies, partners, and development programmes
- Be part of a highly collaborative team of upstream specialists
- Competitive salary (£34,500 – £46,500)
Location & Working Pattern
- Based in Darlington
- Permanent position, based onsite
- Collaborative, customer-facing environment
The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced upstream scientist looking to step into a role with greater technical leadership, customer interaction, and project responsibility. You'll play a key role in developing innovative biologics manufacturing processes while helping shape the future capabilities of a growing scientific team.
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