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Bioprocess Engineer

Sunflower Therapeutics PBC
Medford, MA | Full-time
Start Date: August 2024

Position Overview: Sunflower Therapeutics is recruiting a motivated and highly organized individual to support its mission to deliver protein manufacturing solutions that anyone can use to create innovative new medicines, food products, and other bio-based products. Sunflower is advancing “right-sized” and ecient approaches to democratize protein manufacturing using strain engineering, integrated process development, and automated small-footprint facilities Reporting to the Director of Engineering Operations, the Bioprocess Engineer will be responsible for supporting engineering operations at Sunflower Therapeutics to enable the advancement of Sunflower’s protein manufacturing equipment prototypes. This individual will assist in the design, development, testing, and implementation of biomanufacturing systems for recombinant proteins. A successful candidate will be able to utilize bioprocess data to interpret product and process requirements and ensure the hardware design meets specified and operational standards. This individual will diagnose technical problems across system functions and suggest and carry out creative and timely solutions. As Sunflower grows, the Bioprocess Engineer will contribute to the continuous improvement of Sunflower’s automated multi-product protein manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

  • Provide support for new biomanufacturing hardware, product development, and existing products including control scheme optimization, hardware testing, failure analysis, and reliability assessments
  • Support common bioprocess fluidic device characterization, integration, and control as part of Sunflower’s equipment, including flow meters, process sensors, and pumps
  • Apply principles of fluid mechanics, mass transfer, and scaling techniques to design, optimize, and troubleshoot bioreactor systems, ensuring efficient operation
  • Diagnose technical problems with prototype operations and provide timely and innovative solutions, develop test procedures, and collect data to identify failures and solutions
  • Understand, analyze, and suggest design and control improvements to existing prototypes, both at a unit operation and overall system level
  • Contribute to the integration of mechanical, electrical, and automation design across several scales of Sunflower protein manufacturing unit prototypes, including bioreactor, chromatography, and formulation modules
  • Champion innovation and drives implementation thereof to reduce the time and cost to develop processes for the manufacturing of biologics for patients around the world
  • Support writing of reporting documents, technical documents, and any other necessary documentation
  • Work closely with external stakeholders to align project goals, leverage expertise, and integrate technology, ensuring enhanced project outcomes

Desired Qualifications

We believe the experience and capabilities outlined below will lead to success in this position. We recognize, however, that our mission to enable more proteins to reach patients and consumers worldwide is a significant challenge and will require innovative solutions. As such, we welcome all arguments for how the diversity of your training can help us reach this mission.

  • Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or equivalent
  • 1-3 years of relevant experience in an academic and/or industrial setting
  • Aligned with Sunflower’s mission
  • Demonstrated understanding of basic chemical engineering concepts such as fluid mechanics and heat & mass transfer as well as their effect on biological systems
  • Familiarity with modeling, mathematics, and software/tools used in the design and optimization of fluidic systems, reactors, and their associated control systems
  • Knowledge of protein manufacturing technology such as bioreactors, chromatography, and formulation preferred
  • Willingness to travel
  • Willingness to be a hands-on problem solver
  • Excellent verbal and written interpersonal communication skills
  • Strong analytical and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail and multi-tasking capabilities
  • Enthusiastic, collaborative, and proactive attitude
  • Ability to easily adapt to rapidly changing company and program needs
  • Focus on continued skill-building and career development
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