Senior Scientist – Process Development

Overview

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.

• Ph.D. in Chemical, Biochemical, or Biomedical Engineering or related field required.
• Minimum of 5 years industry experience in mammalian cell culture‑based bioprocess development and GMP manufacturing support. Doctoral or relevant academic experience can be counted as equivalent experience.
• Strong knowledge of bioreactor operations, including design, scale‑up, control strategies and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in chemical process principles (mixing, heat transfer, 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.

• 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 such as JMP or Minitab.

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 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 PPQ and equipment qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ).

The work environment is a laboratory/office setting. Appropriate PPE is required in designated areas. The Senior Scientist may occasionally travel to other Avantor locations or customer sites. This is a full‑time position.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, wellness programs, health savings and flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) plan with company match and employee stock purchase program.
• 11 paid holidays, 18 accrued PTO days annually, volunteer time off and 6 weeks of 100% paid parental leave (except in states that offer paid family leave).

Expected pre‑tax pay: $ – $. Actual pay may differ based on experience and location.

Avantor is 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 other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law.