Scale-up Process Engineer

LLNL$146K — $222K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. citizenship required to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance.
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related specialty with lab or pilot-plant experience.
  • Minimum of two years in chemical process design or related industrial applications.
  • Strong expertise in process design and equipment selection, particularly in chromatography and associated equipment.
  • Familiarity with industry standards (ASME, NFPA, API, cGMP, GDP, OSHA) and SOP development.

Responsibilities

  • Gather and interpret process engineering requirements and develop technical design drawings for pilot systems.
  • Conduct engineering calculations for material sizing, chemical compatibility, and operational functionality of custom pilot units.
  • Lead data collection efforts and recommend equipment and processes for pilot-plant operations.
  • Prepare technical documentation and perform data analysis to validate pilot-unit performance in chromatography processes.
  • Provide technical support and input for ongoing technology development projects.
  • Communicate effectively in a multidisciplinary team with a focus on project timelines and deliverables.
  • Fulfill other assigned duties as needed.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility for remote work.
  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge biobased chromatography processes.
  • Career advancement potential with a clear growth path based on experience and performance.
  • Exposure to multidisciplinary teams and leading-edge projects in bioprocess engineering.
  • Indefinite career position with job stability and opportunities for professional development.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We are hiring multiple Scale-Up Process Engineers to support a new facility and research program. The team will develop and test the processes and equipment needed to scale up a new biobased chromatography process. Over the next two years, the program will focus on producing active materials at scale and demonstrating an automated pilot-plant process capable of producing 10 kg of material per week.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one or more days per week.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will
  • Gather, develop, and interpret process engineering requirements; conduct experiments; and develop and interpret technical design drawings to understand the manufacturing, design, and operational requirements for new pilot systems.
  • Perform engineering calculations and sizing estimates to determine the appropriate materials, volumes, chemical compatibility, dimensions, and functionality required for successful operation of custom pilot units.
  • Lead data collection and recommend appropriate equipment, instrumentation, vendors, and modeling or simulation approaches to support successful pilot-plant operations.
  • Prepare technical documentation; trend performance, yield, and purity data; and perform root-cause analyses to validate pilot-unit performance and identify potential issues in the chromatography process. Apply knowledge of materials, bioengineering, manufacturing, and process controls and monitoring to resolve issues efficiently.
  • Provide input on resolving technical issues and support continued technology development for future research and development projects.
  • Communicate effectively and thrive in a multidisciplinary environment with an accelerated project schedule and challenging milestones and deliverables.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level
  • Lead day-to-day laboratory activities for the installation, setup, and operation of multiple custom laboratory- and pilot-scale chromatography column platforms, including motion systems, tooling, sensors, analytical equipment, and automation and process controls. Ensure accurate and repeatable process setup, material balances, and monitoring to support successful product production.
  • Work within a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders, including designers, engineers, analysts, chemists, materials scientists, technicians, subcontractors, and manufacturers, to complete scale-up activities in alignment with program and sponsor leadership.
  • Maintain troubleshooting, maintenance, process, procedure, test-unit, and pilot-plant documentation, and recommend and implement improvements.


Qualifications
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or another related engineering specialty, with experience working in laboratory or pilot-plant settings.
  • At least two years of experience in chemical process design, process engineering, technology development for industrial applications, or an industry sector such as energy production or chemical manufacturing.
  • Expertise in process design, pilot-plant operations, and equipment selection, including familiarity with compressors, pumps, mass flow controllers, solenoid valves, and instrumentation.
  • Experience applying industry standards, such as ASME, NFPA, API, cGMP, GDP, and OSHA, to pilot equipment and procedures, as well as experience developing standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Additional qualifications at the SES.3 level
  • Project management and leadership experience, including the ability to guide contractors and tradespeople in building custom laboratory and pilot systems on schedule and within budget.
  • Master's or doctoral degree in chemical, mechanical, industrial, or materials engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  • Proficiency with column chromatography, including method development and optimization for chromatographic separations, column packing, equilibration, qualification, solution preparation, system maintenance, and equipment troubleshooting.

Pay Range

$146,340 - $222,564 Annually
$146,340 - $185,544 Annually for the SES.2 level
$175,530 - $222,564 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Additional Information

#LI-Hybrid

Position Information

This is a Career Indefinite position, open to Lab employees and external candidates.

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