Manager, Recombinant Protein Process Development

Thermo Fisher Scientific • Cranbury, NJ

2d • $104,100 - $150,000

About The Position

As a Manager within the Recombinant Proteins R&D team at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will lead scientists responsible for purification and process development of recombinant cytokines, growth factors, and related protein products. This hands-on scientific leadership role balances people management with laboratory work. You will support new product development, improve existing manufacturing processes, and advance technologies for reliable production of high-quality recombinant proteins.

You will guide scientific strategy and technical execution across recombinant proteins produced primarily in bacterial expression systems, with additional products derived from mammalian and insect cells. The role includes mentoring scientists, setting project priorities, and contributing to experimental design, purification development, and complex troubleshooting. Working with R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality, you will strengthen processes, advance capabilities, and support development of processes suitable for future GMP manufacturing.

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.
• Demonstrated 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, including the ability to motivate, mentor, and develop scientists while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills, including the ability to manage competing demands, allocate resources, and drive multiple projects toward completion.
• Sound scientific judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to make informed technical decisions and navigate complex research challenges.
• Ability and willingness to balance people management and strategic planning with active, hands-on 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 a team of 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 R&D projects.
• Design, execute, and optimize purification processes for recombinant cytokines, growth factors, and related proteins using 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 solve challenging purification problems and improve protein recovery, purity, biological activity, stability, and reproducibility.
• Guide experimental design, data analysis, and technical decisions, identifying opportunities to improve process robustness, efficiency, scalability, manufacturability, and technical capabilities.
• Lead development, documentation, and transfer of purification processes to manufacturing teams, ensuring processes are characterized, reproducible, and suitable for reliable production.
• Ensure accurate laboratory records, technical reports, and process documentation that support 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 and 10 paid holidays annually.
• Paid parental leave, including 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.
• Potential eligibility for a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results.

What This Job Offers

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