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Upstream Process Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a highly motivated Process Development Scientist with expertise in radiopharmaceutical development to join our CMC team. The successful candidate will design, execute, and analyze ...

Our vaccines upstream process development team develops safe, scalable, robust, cost-effective ... The successful candidate is expected to work with other upstream scientists and engineers ...

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Upstream Process Development Scientist information

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

As of Jun 5, 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 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.

More about Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings:
What states have the most Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Upstream Process Development Scientist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Upstream Process Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% 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.
Principal Scientist - Molecular Biology, Cell Culture Upstream Process Development

Principal Scientist - Molecular Biology, Cell Culture Upstream Process Development

Eli Lilly and Company

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Eli Lilly and Company rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 62 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 71 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We're looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.
Overview
At Lilly, we serve an extraordinary purpose. We make a difference for people around the globe by discovering, developing and delivering medicines that help them live longer, healthier, more active lives. Not only do we deliver breakthrough medications, but you also can count on us to develop creative solutions to support communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.
Position Summary
The Bioproduct Research and Development (BR&D) organization strives to deliver innovative medicines to patients through the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies, novel therapeutic proteins, peptides, bioconjugates, cell therapies, gene therapies, and other genetic medicines etc. This organization is a multidisciplinary group that works collaboratively with our discovery, manufacturing and quality, business units.
The Principal Scientist/Sr. Principal Scientist is responsible for upstream process development activities related to the production of bioproduct active pharmaceutical ingredients including cell line development, cell culture process definition and optimization, process robustness studies, process transfers to pilot plant and manufacturing sites and authorship of upstream process development sections of Regulatory submissions. The position will interact closely with other scientists in BR&D as well as Discovery, Technical services for Manufacturing, and Manufacturing scientists. They are expected to be an integral participant on multidisciplinary CMC project teams that support bioproduct process and product development activities.
Responsibilities
  • Design and execute appropriate upstream development experiments for generation of bioproduct active pharmaceutical ingredient including protein intermediates for bioconjugation.
  • Provide hands-on support for troubleshooting technical issues and driving innovation projects with novel ideas and technologies.
  • Participate in cross-functional process development teams and effectively collaborate with other groups in BR&D, Discovery, Technical services for Manufacturing and Manufacturing.
  • Support transfer of upstream processes to pilot plant and manufacturing sites.
  • Author technical reports and regulatory documents.
  • Work effectively with external parties on development projects, research collaborations and outsourcing efforts.
  • Support organizational initiatives as needed to achieve short-term and long-term departmental goals.
  • Keep current of relevant scientific literature, new technologies/capabilities and regulatory initiatives/requirements and support their implementation, as appropriate.
  • Ensure work is aligned with all relevant Development Quality, Regulatory, HSE, GLP and GMP requirements.

Basic Requirements
  • BS/MS in Microbiology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Chemical Engineer, or related field
  • BS with 6+ or MS with 3+ years of relevant industrial experience
  • PhD will not be considered at this job level
  • Ability to work well in a team environment incorporating a variety of functional relationships and desire to be a point of accountability.
  • Effective oral and written communication skills, self-management, task planning and organization.
  • Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.

Additional Skills and Preferences
  • Experience with designing experiments, generating data, interpreting results, and documenting the work, independently.
  • Data science and/or AI/ML experience
  • Knowledge of cell biology, cell culture, molecular biology with an emphasis on recombinant protein expression
  • Hands-on experience with cell line generation, cell culture bioreactor operation skills
  • General knowledge and understanding of issues associated with scaling of upstream processes, and use of statistics for data analysis
  • Capable of solving problems with minimal supervision
  • Work productively in an interdisciplinary team environment.

Additional Information:
Physical Demands/Travel:
The physical demands of this job are consistent with a lab environment
The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Work Environment:
This position's work environment is in a laboratory environment.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
*To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the role and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.
Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.
Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is
$65,250 - $169,400
Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.
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About Eli Lilly

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Eli Lilly, based in Indianapolis, IN, US, is one of the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry with a rich history dating back to 1876. This global pharmaceutical company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and selling pharmaceutical products in approximately 120 countries. The company's product categories include endocrinology, oncology, cardiovascular, neuroscience, and immunology. Having invested over $9 billion in research and development in the past decade, Eli Lilly is also committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs. As a recipient of several awards and recognitions, Eli Lilly is known for its focus on life-saving research and drug development. Their mission is to make medicines that help people live longer, healthier, and more active lives.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Indianapolis, IN, US

Year founded

1876