Bioprocess Engineer
Sunflower® Therapeutics PBC
Medford, MA | Full-time
Position overview. Sunflower Therapeutics, PBC is recruiting a motivated and highly organized individual to support its mission to dramatically reduce the time and cost to develop and manufacture biologics for patients around the world. Sunflower is advancing “right-sized” and efficient approaches to manufacturing proteins using strain engineering, integrated process development, and automated multi-product 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. This individual will assist in the design, development, testing, and qualification of biomanufacturing systems. 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 biomanufacturing systems, ensuring efficient operation
- Design and execute multi-scale microbial cultivations (plates, shake flasks, and bioreactors), including the creation of fermentation recipes, cultivation media and the execution of analytical assays for assessing product performance
- Diagnose technical problems with equipment 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
- 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
- Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or equivalent
- 1-3 years of relevant experience in an academic and/or industrial setting
- 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
- Experience with CAD modeling software and additive manufacturing processes
- Knowledge of protein manufacturing technology such as bioreactors, chromatography, and formulation preferred
- 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
To apply for an open position, please email your resume and cover letter to careers@sunflowertx.com with the job title in the subject line.