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

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for upstream process development scientist in the United States is $38.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.37 and $46.15 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 is an upstream scientist?

An upstream process development scientist is responsible for designing and optimizing the early stages of biopharmaceutical production, such as cell culture and fermentation processes. They work with bioreactors, develop protocols, and use tools like chromatography and spectrometry to ensure efficient production of biological products. Strong knowledge of bioprocessing, cell biology, and laboratory techniques is essential for this role.

What are some typical challenges faced by Upstream Process Development Scientists, 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.

How much do fermentation scientists make?

Fermentation scientists, including Upstream Process Development Scientists, typically earn between $70,000 and $110,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in bioprocessing and laboratory techniques can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $120,000.

What is the highest paid type of scientist?

Among scientists, petroleum engineers and data scientists tend to have the highest average salaries, often exceeding $100,000 annually. Upstream process development scientists in biotech or pharmaceutical industries typically earn competitive salaries but generally less than specialized fields like petroleum or data science, depending on experience and location.

What does a process development scientist do?

A process development scientist designs, optimizes, and scales up manufacturing processes for biopharmaceutical products, ensuring efficiency, quality, and compliance with regulatory standards. They use laboratory experiments, data analysis, and process modeling to improve production methods and troubleshoot issues in the development phase.
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Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, and 17% Part Time. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,420 per year, or $38.7 per hour.
Senior Scientist, Viral Upstream Process Development

Senior Scientist, Viral Upstream Process Development

CEDENT

Philadelphia, PA • On-site

$92K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Reporting to the Associate Director, Upstream Process Development, the Senior Scientist will contribute to upstream viral process development to bring Client's pipeline of T cell and viral vector-based products to the clinic. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, performing the day-to-day activities of the viral process development lab, building Client's viral manufacturing capabilities, and executing experiments to support viral process development/characterization. This role will collaborate significantly with research and analytical development teams, as well as contract development and manufacturing organizations.
Key responsibilities:
  • Contribute to the setup and organization of the Client's vector process development capabilities.
  • Develop bench scale suspension culture processes for viral vector generation within shake flasks and bioreactors through design and execution of experiments to support process characterization, and process transfer activities between the research team, TechOps, and external partners.
  • Provide experimental execution, data review and analysis, and maintenance of accurate and detailed lab notebooks.
  • Perform day-to-day activities in the vector process development lab including maintaining equipment, ordering materials and managing inventory, and preparing buffers and process aids.
  • Author and review technical documents, including but not limited to batch records, SOPs, development reports and process specific sections of regulatory documents.
  • Represent Client externally at meetings (professional associations, with regulatory bodies, etc.).
  • Serve as a PD subject matter expert on both internal and external teams (CDMO, material & equipment suppliers, etc.).
Required experience & skills:
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 10 years, Master’s Degree with 8 years or Ph.D. with 5 years in chemical engineering, biochemical engineering/bioengineering, biotechnology or related discipline
  • Hands-on experience with viral vector upstream processing, including excellent small-scale aseptic technique and expert understanding of bioreactor operation and control loops.
  • Experience implementing processes in clinical and commercial manufacturing of cell and gene therapy / biopharma products
  • Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of cell biology, chemical engineering, or bioengineering toward process development, scale-up /scale-down and troubleshooting
  • Strong scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and applied mathematics and statistics skills, including the ability to break down complex problems into manageable hypotheses
  • Proven experience collaborating with internal and external partners
  • Ability to balance individual contributions while training and informally mentoring junior colleagues.
  • Working knowledge of GMP guidelines for clinical and commercial manufacturing
  • Proficiency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and data analysis/presentation software such as JMP and/or GraphPad
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational & problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail and the proven ability to collaborate in a dynamic team environment
Preferred experience & skills:
  • End-to-end experience in plasmid and Lentivirus development and manufacturing
  • Experience with high-throughput bioreactors systems, namely AMBR, but others will be considered
  • Experience drafting CMC sections for INDs
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About Cedent

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CEDENT strives to attract and retain the best people and provide an environment where they can all develop professionally and build a rewarding career. As a result, we create an inclusive environment that is rich in diversity, acknowledges each individual's uniqueness and promotes respect, personal achievement and stewardship. Our clients are global and so is CEDENT. We build and maintain a global workforce that includes people from different backgrounds, with a vast range of skills and experience all united by a common culture and commitment to help our clients achieve high performance. Cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive work environment makes business sense. Our peoples varied skills are the talent engine that powers CEDENT, enabling it in turn to deliver the innovative solutions that help our clients outperform competitors.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Plano, TX, US

Year founded

2008

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