Scientist II, Upstream Polysaccharide Process Development

Role: Microbial fermentation scientist supporting upstream process development for polysaccharide vaccine candidates. Objectives: develop, optimize, and characterize microbial fermentation processes using microorganisms like Streptococcus pneumoniae or E. coli; support process scale-up, characterization, and manufacturing readiness. Responsibilities: design, execute, analyze, and document fermentation experiments; troubleshoot process challenges; improve yields and product quality; author technical documents and reports; collaborate across R&D and manufacturing teams; lead assigned projects and mentor junior staff. Requirements: Ph.D. in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, or related field with 2–5 years or MS with 7+ years or BS with 10+ years industry experience; proven expertise in microbial fermentation, process development, bioreactor operation, and process analytical technologies; experience with GMP, regulatory documentation, and data analysis tools (e.g., JMP); familiarity with BSL-2 organisms, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae or E. coli, is a plus; strong communication skills. HighValue: upstream fermentation, microbial process development, vaccine manufacturing, GMP compliance, microbial strain characterization, bioreactor automation (Ambr250), statistical design of experiments. WorkSetup: onsite in San Carlos, CA (minimum 4 days/week); competitive salary range $146K–$171K with benefits and equity.