Work ScheduleStandard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental ConditionsSome degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)
Job DescriptionThermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a
Downstream Process Development Engineer to support development, scale-up, and customer enablement of downstream purification processes using our industry-leading single-use and hybrid purification platforms. This role is highly hands-on, customer-facing, and focused on large-scale chromatography execution, troubleshooting, and technology transfer.
Location: This is an onsite position in Plainville, Massachusetts. Residency within commuting distance is required. No relocation assistance will be provided.
What You'll Do- Develop and execute downstream purification processes across capture, intermediate, and polishing steps.
- Perform hands-on large-scale protein purification, including operation of chromatography columns 30 cm to 60 cm ID.
- Pack, qualify, and troubleshoot large-scale chromatography columns, ensuring consistent performance across cycles.
- Diagnose and resolve pressure, flow distribution, and resin-related issues, including column fouling, pressure excursions, and yield losses.
- Make real-time process adjustments during chromatography runs based on system trends and performance data.
- Operate and optimize chromatography skids (single-use and/or stainless steel), including systems controlled via DeltaV.
- Review process trends, alarms, and historian data to drive process understanding and improvement.
- Generate high-quality technical data demonstrating robustness, scalability, and reproducibility.
- Support PD pilot manufacturing scale transitions and participate in customer or internal tech transfer discussions.
- Lead hands-on customer training, demonstrations, and technical workshops.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, automation, manufacturing, and commercial teams.
Required Qualifications- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field with 5+ years of relevant experience;
- M.S. with 3+ years of relevant experience;
- Ph.D. with relevant industry experience.
- Hands-on experience with protein purification using chromatography, including capture, intermediate, and polishing steps.
- Direct experience operating large-scale chromatography columns ( 30 cm ID).
- Experience packing and qualifying chromatography columns in development or pilot-scale environments.
- Strong ability to diagnose chromatography performance issues, including pressure, flow, and resin behavior.
- Solid mechanical and fluid-flow intuition for packed-bed chromatography.
- Experience operating downstream single-use purification systems.
- Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of unit operations, with accountability for execution and outcomes.
- Strong planning, execution, and technical documentation skills.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience operating chromatography columns 45-60 cm ID at pilot or manufacturing scale.
- Hands-on experience with resin lifetime studies, reuse strategies, and column performance trending across multiple cycles.
- Understanding of resin selection tradeoffs (binding capacity, pressure limitations, fouling risk).
- Knowledge of cleaning, sanitization, and storage practices for chromatography resins and columns.
- Experience operating chromatography skids using DeltaV, including navigation of batch phases and recipe logic.
- Ability to collaborate with automation engineers on phase logic optimization and troubleshooting.
- Familiarity with electronic batch records (EBR) or MES interfaces.
- Understanding of scale-dependent risks, including flow distribution, pressure scaling, and residence time effects.
- Experience translating small-scale learnings into robust operating ranges for pilot or manufacturing scale.
- Experience supporting customer-facing troubleshooting, training, or technology transfer activities.
- Demonstrated proactive identification of process risks and continuous improvement opportunities.
Physical Requirements- Ability to work in a laboratory environment and handle light to moderate lifting (up to ~50 lbs)
- Standing and walking for extended periods during experimental execution
- Manual dexterity to operate laboratory equipment and instrumentation
Compensation and BenefitsThe salary range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $96,000.00-$127,000.00.
This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
- Employees' Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit:
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