Manager, Recombinant Protein Process Development

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Cranbury, NJ

7d

About The Position

As a Manager within Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Recombinant Proteins R&D team, lead a team of scientists responsible for purification and process development of recombinant cytokines, growth factors, and related protein products. This hands-on scientific leadership role combines people management with laboratory work. The manager supports new product development, improves existing manufacturing processes, and advances technologies for reliable production of high-quality recombinant proteins, primarily using bacterial expression systems, with additional products derived from mammalian and insect cells. The role guides scientific strategy and technical execution, mentors scientists, establishes project priorities, and contributes directly to experimental design, purification development, and complex troubleshooting. It works with R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality colleagues to strengthen processes, develop new capabilities, and support processes suitable for future GMP manufacturing.

The position follows a standard Monday–Friday schedule in a laboratory and office setting. Some personal protective equipment is required, such as safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coats, and ear plugs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a related life sciences discipline.
• Progressive experience in recombinant protein expression and purification process development: typically 10+ years with a bachelor's degree, 8+ years with a master's degree, or 4+ years with a Ph.D.
• Experience leading scientists or technical project teams, including mentoring, coordinating experimental activities, and driving scientific objectives to completion.
• Extensive hands-on experience with chromatographic purification, including ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and other chromatography techniques.
• Experience operating automated chromatography systems and developing, optimizing, scaling, or transferring recombinant protein purification processes.
• Expertise evaluating protein recovery, purity, aggregation, stability, and biological activity using techniques such as SDS-PAGE, SEC, and relevant biochemical or functional assays.
• Experience independently designing experiments, analyzing complex data, troubleshooting purification processes, maintaining rigorous technical documentation, and communicating scientific conclusions.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate, mentor, and develop scientists while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills, including managing competing demands, allocating resources effectively, and driving multiple projects toward completion.
• Sound scientific judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills for making informed technical decisions and navigating complex research challenges.
• Ability and willingness to balance people management and strategic planning with active, hands-on participation in laboratory research and development.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical findings, recommendations, and project priorities to scientific and cross-functional stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Prior direct people-management experience.
• Familiarity with GMP principles and documentation requirements.
• Experience with bacterial recombinant protein expression.
• Experience with inclusion-body recovery or refolding, fermentation, mammalian or insect cell expression, or process characterization.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop scientists through coaching, feedback, and performance management, fostering scientific rigor, technical growth, accountability, and collaboration.
• Establish project priorities, coordinate laboratory activities, allocate resources, and monitor progress across multiple projects.
• Design, execute, and optimize recombinant protein purification processes using chromatographic techniques, including affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography.
• Oversee and support small- to medium-scale E. coli fermentation experiments for recombinant protein production, process optimization, and downstream purification development.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership to troubleshoot purification challenges and improve protein recovery, purity, biological activity, stability, and reproducibility.
• Guide experimental design, data analysis, and technical decisions; identify opportunities to improve process robustness, efficiency, scalability, manufacturability, and technical capabilities.
• Lead development, documentation, and transfer of purification processes to manufacturing teams, ensuring they are characterized, reproducible, and suitable for reliable production.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records, technical reports, and process documentation supporting reproducibility, quality standards, and future GMP manufacturing requirements.
• Collaborate with R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality partners to resolve technical challenges, support process improvements, and advance organizational priorities.

Benefits

• 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 of paid time off (PTO) and 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.
• Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with eligible colleagues able to purchase company stock at a discount.
• May be eligible for a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager