Scientist II, Process Development

Forge Biologics•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Scientist II provides active leadership and execution of the laboratory experiments and protocols for upstream process development efforts. This individual will lead projects and complex experiments, train junior scientists, and actively contribute to the advancement of AAV manufacturing processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biology, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
Working knowledge of cell culture techniques utilizing mammalian cells
Proven ability to operate and troubleshoot bioreactors
Experience planning, conducting and reviewing experimental data with minimal oversight
Experience training and development of other team members
Experience analyzing data sets and utilizing the corresponding data to influence decision making
Experience working with external collaborators (clients, external technology transfers, etc.)
Project management experience

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biology, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
Experience working with viral vectors (AAV, Lentivirus, etc.)
Experience in late-stage process development, process characterization, risk assessments (e.g., FMEA)
Hands-on experience with Ambr® 250 and other bench-scale bioreactor systems
Hands-on experience in design of experiments and with statistical software (e.g., JMP)

Responsibilities

Senior-level technical contributor and subject matter expert for upstream systems and process strategy
Independently manages multiple projects or client programs simultaneously, maintaining a high degree of quality, scientific rigor, and compliance
Leads process development activities for early- to late-stage programs, including scale-up, technology transfer, and validation support
Designs and executes complex DoE studies, authors technical reports, and contributes to regulatory documentation
Anticipates challenges in upstream scale-up and proactively develops solutions to ensure technical success
Acts as a key liaison between Process Development, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to align on strategy and ensure smooth GMP execution
Contributes scientific rationale for tech transfer packages and GMP documentation without owning official SOPs or batch records
Mentors junior scientists and associates through day-to-day technical guidance, fostering development in experimental design, documentation standards, and scientific reasoning

Benefits

Health, dental and vision insurance start your first day – with 90% of premiums covered for you and your family.
A competitive paid time off plan – because rest fuels innovation.
12 weeks of fully paid parental leave so you can focus on family when it matters most.
Annual bonus opportunities for all full-time team members.
401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future.
Special employee discounts, including childcare and dependent care savings.
Onsite fitness facility at The Hearth.
Mental health counseling and financial planning services through our Employee Assistance Program.
Employer-paid short and long-term disability coverage to protect your peace of mind.
A fully stocked kitchen with free snacks and beverages – we keep you energized and ready for what’s next.
Ongoing professional development resources, training, and mentorship programs to help you build your care and grow within Forge.