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Upstream Process Development Scientist Jobs in Washington

... Life Sciences industry. Established in 1999, Valspec's mission is to provide a wide spectrum of ... Process Engineer -- Upstream / Downstream / Clean Utilities (Consultant) -- Contract Engagement:

Senior Scientist

Manassas, VA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Process Development & Technology Transfer: Translate validated experimental protocols into quality ... Scientific Expertise & Mentorship: Provide scientific expertise for research and development ...

Senior Scientist

Manassas, VA · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Process Development & Technology Transfer: Translate validated experimental protocols into quality ... Scientific Expertise & Mentorship: Provide scientific expertise for research and development ...

Determine scientific rigor in assessing own data and that of others, by providing detailed ... Purification development experience for GMP process development in biotech/pharmaceutical or ...

Scientist I, AR&D

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$65K - $75K/yr

As a Scientist I on our Analytical R&D team, you would be responsible for testing the product ... Support the R&D team by testing the process development sample for content uniformity, blend ...

Showing results 21-40

Upstream Process Development Scientist information

See Washington salary details

$23

$43

$69

How much do upstream process development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for upstream process development scientist in Washington is $43.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32.12 and $52.26 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an upstream process development scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Upstream Process Development Scientist, you need a strong background in bioprocess engineering, cell culture, and molecular biology, typically supported by a degree in life sciences or biochemical engineering. Familiarity with bioreactor systems, analytical instrumentation, and data analysis software, as well as experience with cGMP and regulatory guidelines, is essential. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help drive innovation and collaboration in the lab. These skills are crucial for optimizing cell culture processes, ensuring product quality, and meeting timelines in biopharmaceutical development.

What are some typical challenges faced by an upstream process development scientist, and how are they addressed in the workplace?

Upstream Process Development Scientists often encounter challenges such as optimizing cell culture conditions for maximum yield, scaling up processes from bench to pilot or production scale, and troubleshooting variability in biological systems. These challenges are typically addressed through rigorous experimental design, close collaboration with cross-functional teams like analytical development and quality assurance, and leveraging data-driven approaches to problem-solving. Regular team meetings and access to advanced instrumentation also provide support, ensuring that scientists can quickly adapt to evolving project needs and industry standards.

What does an upstream process development scientist do?

An Upstream Process Development Scientist is responsible for designing, optimizing, and scaling up processes for the production of biological products such as proteins, vaccines, or antibodies. They primarily focus on cell culture, fermentation, and bioreactor operations to maximize yield and product quality. These scientists work closely with research and manufacturing teams to develop efficient and reproducible processes that can be transferred to large-scale production. Their work is essential in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries for the development of new therapeutics.

What is the difference between Upstream Process Development Scientist vs Downstream Process Development Scientist?

AspectUpstream Process Development ScientistDownstream Process Development Scientist
Focus AreaBioreactor cultivation, cell culture optimization, media developmentPurification, filtration, chromatography, product recovery
Skills & CertificationsCell biology, bioprocessing, GMP regulationsProtein chemistry, purification techniques, GMP compliance
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, bioreactors, pilot plantsLaboratories, purification facilities, pilot plants
Industry UsageBiopharmaceuticals, biotech companies, contract manufacturingBiopharmaceuticals, biotech companies, contract manufacturing

Both roles are essential in bioprocessing, with upstream scientists focusing on cell growth and media optimization, while downstream scientists handle product purification. They often collaborate closely within biopharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure efficient production and high-quality biologics.

What are popular job titles related to Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Washington? For Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings:
Infographic showing various Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,083 per year, or $43.8 per hour.

Agile Development Support Process Engineer

Peraton

Linthicum, MD • On-site

$146K - $234K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 27 days ago


Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

47th of 221 rated it services


Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton is hiring an Agile Development Support Process Engineer to join our Cyber Mission business unit in Annapolis Junction, MD. As a Process Engineer on our team, you will support one of the largest enterprise-wide engineering contracts within the Intelligence Community. This is a full-time position requiring 1880 hours of support per year; and work is performed at a customer location.

As a Development Support Process Engineer on our team, you will support a customer Program Management Office (PMO) overseeing a large multi-organizational agile software development project. You will provide process engineering support to plan and execute systems engineering and agile development processes. #MDFSP #AJCM

Qualifications

Individual Capabilities/Experience Required:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or Education from an accredited school or university is required.
  • Requires ten (10) years of experience with Process Improvement on programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity. Experience is to include, within the past ten (10) years, five (5) years' experience in facilitation, training, methodology development and evaluation, process engineering across all phases of acquisition identifying best practices, change management, business management techniques, organizational development, activity and data modeling, or information system development methods and practices.
  • Experience planning and executing agile development projects.
  • Strong communication, interpersonal and mentoring skills
  • Position requires an active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph that is less than 10 years old

Individual Capabilities/Experience Desired:

  • Strong oral, written and interpersonal communications skills.
  • Ability to work within a team setting to complete assigned tasks within expected schedule to complete.
  • Flexible/easily adaptable within a dynamic work environment that may require surge efforts.
  • Analysis of design and implementation alternatives, tradeoffs, and recommendations.
  • Analysis of functional, system, and non-functional requirements, data flows, and dependencies
  • Architecture experience (DoDAF).
  • Defining, developing, and documenting operational support concepts leading to development and implementation of requirements, specifications, and design plans.
  • Prior experience as a Product Owner/Scrum Master on an agile/scrum team

Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees working on this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap and eligible to participate in an attractive bonus plan.

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$146,000 - $234,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017