Cell Culture Scientist, Small Scale Production (Plainville, MA)
About The Position
The Small-Scale Cell Culture Scientist is a hands-on technical contributor in the Bioprocess Design Center (BDC), responsible for designing, executing, and documenting upstream cell culture experiments that generate high-quality technical evidence for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s single-use bioprocessing technologies. This role operates at the intersection of experimental biology and systems-level process design. The successful candidate will independently own small-scale cell culture studies, translate experimental outcomes into actionable insights, and support integrated workflow development across upstream unit operations. While primarily lab-focused, the role requires strong communication skills and comfort engaging with cross-functional partners and customers. Location: This is an onsite position in Plainville, Massachusetts. Residency within commuting distance is required. No relocation assistance will be provided.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and upstream bioprocessing
- Familiarity with single-use bioreactor systems and small-scale process development
- Experience designing and executing controlled experiments; DOE experience preferred
- Strong data analysis, documentation, and technical writing skills
- Working knowledge of GLP/GMP concepts and laboratory best practices
- Proficiency with standard data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint)
- B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant experience
- M.S. with 2+ years of relevant experience
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Ability to translate experimental data into practical insights
- Comfortable operating in environments with evolving requirements and priorities
- Collaborative mindset with a customer-centric orientation
Responsibilities
- Independently design and execute small-scale upstream cell culture experiments (typically 2L–50L) using single-use bioreactor systems.
- Incorporate process analytical techniques (PAT), online sensors, and at-line/off-line analytics to monitor and assess cell culture performance.
- Execute mammalian cell culture processes such as fed-batch and intensified workflows, ensuring reproducibility, data integrity, and traceability.
- Troubleshoot experimental and data-related issues, including sensor performance, data quality, and process variability.
- Analyze experimental datasets using advanced data analytics approaches, including multivariate analysis, trend analysis, and statistical methods, as appropriate.
- Leverage JUMP™ and other analytical programs to support data-driven decision making and improve experimental efficiency.
- Translate complex datasets into clear, defensible conclusions and visual summaries suitable for internal and customer-facing audiences.
- Author protocols, technical reports, summaries, and SOPs that integrate experimental outcomes with process data insights.
- Collaborate closely with engineers, scientists, and cross-functional teams to align experimental work with BDC priorities.
- Support customer visits, technical demonstrations, and internal reviews by clearly explaining experimental intent and results.
- Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Maintain a safe, compliant, and organized laboratory environment.
- Follow applicable safety, quality, and data integrity requirements.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of lab workflows and experimental practices.
Benefits
- A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
- At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
- Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
