Umami Bioworks is looking to hire an inquisitive, innovative, and independent Upstream Bioprocess Lead to join our R&D team in Bangalore, India. Role Overview Bioprocess Engineer to lead our Process Engineering team to guide development of our continuous cultivation process to production scale and successfully transfer production to customer-operated sites. In this role, you will be responsible for leading the process development of cultivated fish cell culture scale-up, from static and small-scale dynamic culture to 200+ L. This will require experimental design, wet-lab work, and data analysis for cell proliferation at increasing scale.

Successful candidates will be expected to drive upstream process development activities, develop and clearly communicate requirements to inputs teams, and will bring expertise in operating scale-down bioreactors, developing optimized bioprocesses, and scaling process from bench to pilot. You will work directly with other members of our small but growing team to do cutting-edge science and will have the autonomy to test new ideas and identify better ways to do things.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and Development: Design and execute DoE-driven studies across shake flasks, bench, and pilot bioreactors to optimize media, feeding, and process parameters. Implement and refine process control, and feed profiles
• Process Development & Optimization: Design and execute experiments to develop, characterize and optimize scalable upstream (e.g., cell culture) and downstream (e.g., purification) processes for new species in our pipeline.
• Scale-Up Leadership: Apply scientific and engineering principles to scale processes from benchtop bioreactors to pilot-scale equipment, identifying and mitigating potential risks.
• Supply Chain Optimization: Analyze process economics and critical suppliers to identify and implement strategies that reduce COGS while maintaining product quality.
• Documentation & Reporting: Author and review key technical documents, including development reports, batch records, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for internal records and handover to customers under license.
• Regulatory readiness: Support preparation of regulatory dossiers by generating and providing all process documentation and data packages in the format and level of detail required to support global regulatory requirements.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering, to ensure project goals and timelines are met.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior scientists and associates within the team.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related field + 5 years or M.S + 7 years of relevant industrial hands-on experience

Experience 8-10 years in MSAT and production with direct experience in scaling animal cell culture processes from R&D reactors (<50L) to production reactors of at least 200L- 5+ years of industry experience (MS) or 3+ years of industry experience (PhD) in biotechnology, cell manufacturing or a relevant engineering field

• Demonstrated expertise in process scale-up and with successful technology transfer of multiple animal cell products from pilot to commercial scale

• Experience with batch and fed-batch cell culture is essential; intensified or continuous process experience is a plus

• Experience with scale-down model development, predictive modeling, and model validation is a plus

• Experience with high-throughput, parallel bioreactor systems and automation is a plus

• Track record of successfully leading small teams is strongly preferred

• Demonstrated scientific rigor toward continuous improvement Skills

• Strong understanding of upstream processes, process analytical technologies, and troubleshooting approaches for successful bioprocess transfers

• Proficiency with Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology for bioprocess development, including experiment design and data analysis

• Proficiency in engineering techniques, including quantitative modeling and mass balance

• Basic scripting in relevant languages such as Python, R, SQL, etc

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and skills to prioritize and deliver against timelines

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong command of the English language

You will work directly with other members of our small but growing team to do cutting-edge science and will have the autonomy to test new ideas and identify better ways to do things.