Senior Scientist - Chemistry Process Development (Pleasanton, CA)

About the position

The Senior Scientist in Chemistry Process Development will be responsible for developing, optimizing, validating, and implementing a variety of chemistry-based production processes, transitioning them from research and development to manufacturing. This role requires a deep understanding of the interactions between chemistry, microfluidics, production processes, and molecular biology to effectively troubleshoot product deviations and devise solutions. The position involves conducting experiments, scaling up production processes, and defining quality control strategies to ensure product quality and performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, validate, and implement a wide range of chemistry-based production processes, transitioning them from R&D to Manufacturing.
• Build a deep understanding of how chemistry, microfluidics, production processes, and molecular biology interact to troubleshoot product deviations and find solutions.
• Conduct experiments to investigate reaction mechanisms, process variability, failure modes, and apply DOE (Design of Experiments) methodologies.
• Identify and optimize key factors (e.g., temperature, workflow, reagent concentrations) that influence product quality and performance.
• Scale up production processes and develop alternative methods to meet growing demands.
• Define and implement quality control (QC) strategies and develop new analytical methods as needed.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to manufacturing, QC, and material quality.
• Communicate and present experimental results, maintaining detailed records and contributing to design decisions.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in process development within the life sciences industry, with expertise in polymers, oils, surfactants, or oligonucleotide chemistry.
• Strong interdisciplinary knowledge of scientific and engineering principles.
• Proven ability to design experiments and analyze results with an attention to detail.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills for reporting experimental findings and plans.
• Experience in process validation and transferring processes to manufacturing or external vendors.
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with statistical analysis tools like JMP for experimental design and data interpretation.
• Familiarity with scaling production processes and optimizing QC methods.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot manufacturing and quality control issues.
• Interest and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving organization focused on innovation and technology growth.

Benefits

• Full-time position with potential for career growth and development.