Manager, Recombinant Protein Process Development

Thermo Fisher Scientific · Cranbury · $104,100–$150,000 (stated in the posting)

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Environmental Conditions

Job Description

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. With over $1 billion invested annually in R&D, our scientists help solve some of the world’s toughest challenges — from advancing cancer diagnostics to improving global water safety.

How you will make an impact

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

You will guide scientific strategy and technical execution across a diverse portfolio of recombinant proteins produced primarily in bacterial expression systems, with additional products derived from mammalian and insect cells. Responsibilities include mentoring scientists, establishing project priorities, and contributing directly to experimental design, purification development, and complex troubleshooting. Working closely with colleagues across R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality, you will strengthen existing processes, advance new capabilities, and support the development of processes suitable for future GMP manufacturing.

What you will do

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, fostering scientific rigor, technical growth, accountability, and a collaborative laboratory environment through regular coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Establish project priorities, coordinate laboratory activities, allocate resources, and monitor progress to ensure the timely execution of R&D objectives across multiple projects.
• Design, execute, and optimize purification processes for recombinant cytokines, growth factors, and related proteins using chromatographic techniques including affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and size-exclusion chromatography.
• Oversee and support small- to medium-scale E. coli fermentation experiments to support recombinant protein production, process optimization, and downstream purification development.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership in resolving challenging purification problems, improving protein recovery, purity, biological activity, stability, and reproducibility.
• Guide experimental design, data analysis, and technical decision-making while identifying opportunities to enhance process robustness, efficiency, scalability, manufacturability, and technical capabilities.
• Lead the development, documentation, and transfer of purification processes to manufacturing teams, ensuring processes are well-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 cross-functional partners across R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality to resolve technical challenges, support process improvements, and advance organizational priorities.

How you will get here

Education

Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Bioengineering, or a related life sciences discipline.

Experience

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

Skills and attributes

• 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, with the ability to manage competing demands, allocate resources effectively, and drive multiple projects toward completion.
• Sound scientific judgment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make informed technical decisions and navigate 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, with the ability to clearly convey technical findings, recommendations, and project priorities to scientific and cross-functional stakeholders.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Our global team of more than 100,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience, and pharmaceutical services through industry-leading brands including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:

• A 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 paid time off (PTO), 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

• Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan

• Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount

For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards

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