Manufacturing Specialist -Water Bear Bio (ETS)- Temporary

Emory Healthcare • Atlanta, GA

13h • Onsite

About The Position

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. Water Bear Bio is an academic biotech startup revolutionizing the way biological samples are handled. They are preparing to launch their cutting-edge Extract & Store (E&S) technology, which integrates RNA extraction and stabilization into a single, field-ready kit. This technology dramatically improves RNA stabilization and eliminates the need for ultra-cold storage, enabling critical emerging virus surveillance and testing anywhere in the world. As Water Bear Bio accelerates its go-to-market transition, they are seeking a highly motivated Temporary Manufacturing Specialist to join their launch team. In this high-impact, sprint-focused role, the specialist will be instrumental in scaling up production to turn international collaborations into first sales. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience bridging the gap between university-born innovation and commercial manufacturing, directly supporting pilot deployments at high-credibility sites globally. The role involves transitioning the Extract & Store (E&S) technology from ad-hoc assembly to small batch manufacturing. While employed through Emory University, this role directly supports Water Bear Bio’s goal of rapidly deploying E&S kits to strategic domestic and international pilot sites, aiming to establish dedicated inventory, eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks, and significantly reduce the sales and pilot cycle.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• Prior hands-on experience working in a laboratory, cleanroom, or medical device/biotech manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience executing strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and a clear understanding of lot release criteria and quality control.
• Excellent fine motor skills for the precise, repetitive handling of small components, such as assembling 1.5 mL tubes, loading desiccant spheres, and securing membranes.
• Hyper-attention to detail to ensure end-user viability.
• Must be highly reliable, capable of managing time independently to hit strict inventory targets, and proactive in communicating supply shortages or bottlenecks.

Responsibilities

• Scale up ad-hoc kit assembly to small batch manufacturing to produce at least 100 fully packaged product kits.
• Manufacture 50 kits of 50 extractions and 50 kits of 96 extractions (Bio Card arrays).
• Execute repeatable standard operating procedures (SOPs) developed in partnership with Rook Quality Systems.
• Conduct quality control testing and adhere strictly to lot release criteria.
• Assemble and package components, including lysis tubes, Bio Cards, drop-in storage cylinders, and liquid reagents.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees