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Upstream Manufacturing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead on-the-floor execution of AR5 PPH upstream manufacturing operations, including perfusion, production, and harvest activities. * Demonstrate technical mastery of cell culture processes, equipment ...

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How much do upstream manufacturing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for upstream manufacturing in the United States is $24.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $28.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is upstream manufacturing?

Upstream manufacturing refers to the initial stages of the production process in industries like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, where raw materials such as cells, bacteria, or yeast are cultivated to produce a desired product. This stage typically includes activities like cell culture, fermentation, and media preparation. The goal is to optimize the growth and productivity of the biological system to ensure efficient production before moving to downstream processing, which involves purification and formulation of the final product.

What are some common challenges faced in upstream manufacturing, and how are they typically addressed by teams?

In upstream manufacturing, one of the main challenges is maintaining consistent cell culture conditions to optimize yield and product quality. Teams often face issues such as contamination, variability in raw materials, and equipment malfunctions. To address these challenges, upstream teams implement rigorous standard operating procedures (SOPs), utilize real-time monitoring systems, and collaborate closely with quality assurance and process engineering teams. Regular team meetings and cross-functional communication are key to quickly identifying and solving problems, ensuring smooth production runs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in upstream manufacturing?

To thrive in Upstream Manufacturing, you need a solid understanding of bioprocessing, cell culture techniques, and process engineering, often supported by a degree in biotechnology, chemical engineering, or a related field. Familiarity with bioreactors, process control systems, and cGMP regulations is typically required, along with certifications like Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing being advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for excelling in this field. These capabilities ensure efficient production, product quality, and compliance with industry standards in a highly regulated environment.

What is the difference between Upstream Manufacturing vs Downstream Manufacturing?

AspectUpstream ManufacturingDownstream Manufacturing
FocusRaw material extraction and initial processingFinal product assembly and packaging
Work EnvironmentFactories, extraction sitesAssembly lines, packaging facilities
CredentialsTechnical certifications, safety trainingQuality control, packaging certifications
Industry UsageOil & gas, chemicals, miningPharmaceuticals, food production, consumer goods

Upstream Manufacturing involves the extraction and initial processing of raw materials, while Downstream Manufacturing focuses on transforming these materials into finished products. Both roles are essential in the supply chain but differ in their processes, environments, and required skills.

More about Upstream Manufacturing jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Upstream Manufacturing jobs? The most popular types of Upstream Manufacturing jobs are:
What states have the most Upstream Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for Upstream Manufacturing jobs include:
Infographic showing various Upstream Manufacturing job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,890 per year, or $24.9 per hour.

Associate III, Manufacturing

Catalent Pharma Solutions

Harmans, MD • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Catalent rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 55 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

60th of 86 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Job Description
Associate III, ManufacturingAbout Site

Our FDA-licensed, state-of-the-art CGMP manufacturing facility for Gene Therapies is located on the Harmans/BWI campus. The campus, featuring two manufacturing facilities is located 5 miles from the Baltimore Washington International (BWI) airport and 13 miles from our Baltimore location. The campus is close to Washington, DC's I-270 Technology Corridor, top universities, and government agencies.

The Harmans/BWI-1 EMA and FDA approved facility, at approximately 200,000 sq. ft., houses 10 CGMP manufacturing suites, fill/finish, central services, testing labs, and a warehouse.

The Harmans/BWI-2 facility, at approximately 145,000 sq. ft., is under development and will house 8 CGMP manufacturing suites and cold storage warehousing.

Both facilities support Phase 3 through commercial manufacturing of advanced therapeutic products including AAV and other viral vector-based therapies and vaccines.

Position Summary

We have an opportunity for an Associate III, Manufacturing to join our team and support upstream production operations. In this role, you will perform and document cGMP activities, operate process equipment, and assist with validation protocols. You will also create and revise cGMP documents while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. This position offers the chance to contribute to process optimization and efficiency improvements in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Shift: Day Shift - 7am-7pm on a 2-2-3 rotation
Location: Harmans, MD - BWI
100% Onsite

The Role
  • Collaborate with Manufacturing Science & Technology (MS&T), Development, Engineering, and Quality teams to support technology transfer, process scale-up, equipment implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

  • Lead designated upstream manufacturing operations and provide technical guidance to support production objectives.

  • Operate bioreactors and execute aseptic cell culture, fermentation, and fill-finish manufacturing processes in accordance with GMP requirements.

  • Monitor and execute critical manufacturing processes, ensuring adherence to batch records, SOPs, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

  • Prepare, weigh, dispense, label, and stage raw materials, media, and buffer solutions for manufacturing operations.

  • Perform product transfers, filtration, sampling, environmental monitoring coordination, and routine process documentation to support production activities.

  • Operate, maintain, clean, sterilize, and troubleshoot manufacturing equipment, including bioreactors, centrifuges, autoclaves, washers, and laboratory instrumentation.

  • Support equipment maintenance, calibration, validation activities, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and process improvement initiatives.

  • Author, review, and revise manufacturing documentation, including SOPs, batch records, training materials, protocols, and reports while ensuring data integrity and compliance.

  • Train and mentor manufacturing personnel on technical operations, scientific principles, safety practices, and GMP requirements while supporting cross-functional teams to achieve production goals.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

The CandidateMinimum Requirements
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical discipline (e.g., biology, biotechnology, engineering) or related life science field with a minimum of 4 years of related experience, OR High School diploma or Associate's degree in a technical discipline with a minimum of 5 years of related experience.

  • Strong knowledge and ability to apply scientific principles to solve operational and routine production tasks.

  • Focus on safe behaviors and ability to recognize unsafe conditions.

  • Thorough understanding of quality systems in a regulated environment and commitment to right first time (RFT) execution.

  • Excellent documentation skills including comprehension, review, and preparation of Batch Production Records, SOPs, deviation, and summary reports.

  • Team-oriented and proactive in building healthy working relationships.

  • Actively pursues learning of required and new skills, and new equipment.

  • Proficient understanding of equipment function and application.

  • Proficient in MS Office and related PC skills.

  • Ability to work a set shift with occasional overtime as required.

  • Extended periods of walking, standing, bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling.

Preferred Skills & Background
  • Experience supporting bacterial fermentation operations, including upstream processing, bioreactor monitoring, and cGMP-compliant manufacturing practices.

Pay

The anticipated hourly rate for this position in MD is $38.46 - $43.26 Plus Bonus. The final hourly rate offered to a successful candidate may vary, and will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, skillset, education, business needs, etc. Catalent is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

Why You Should Join Catalent
  • Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process.

  • Diverse, inclusive culture.

  • Potential for career growth on an expanding team within an organization dedicated to preserving and bettering lives.

  • Competitive paid time off plus 8 paid holidays.

  • Community engagement and green initiatives.

  • Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one of employment.

  • Tuition Reimbursement.

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.

Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers:

Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond- it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities.

California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.


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About Catalent

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.Catalent is committed to the health and safety of its employees, visitors and the customers and patients we serve.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Somerset, NJ, US

Year founded

2007

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