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Upstream Process Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CEDENT

Process Scientist

Philadelphia, PA

A Scientist is a mid-level individual with understanding of cell/molecular biology and previous experience in either upstream or downstream biopharmaceutical processing that utilizes bioreactors. A ...

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How much do upstream process scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for upstream process scientist in the United States is $42.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32.21 and $47.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are typical daily responsibilities for an Upstream Process Scientist in a biopharmaceutical company?

As an Upstream Process Scientist, your daily responsibilities often include designing and executing experiments to optimize cell culture conditions, operating and monitoring bioreactors, and analyzing process data to improve yields or purity. You will collaborate closely with downstream process scientists, quality assurance teams, and manufacturing staff to ensure smooth technology transfer and troubleshoot production issues. Additionally, documenting findings, preparing technical reports, and participating in project meetings are key aspects of the role. This position is dynamic and may also involve scaling up processes from laboratory to pilot or manufacturing scale, providing excellent opportunities to develop both technical expertise and project management skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Upstream Process Scientist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Upstream Process Scientist, you need a strong background in bioprocess engineering, cell culture, fermentation, and a relevant scientific degree such as biotechnology, biology, or chemical engineering. Familiarity with bioreactors, process analytical technologies (PAT), statistical analysis software, and GMP/GLP standards is highly valued, and some positions may require certifications like Six Sigma or specific training in biomanufacturing. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills distinguish top performers in this role, as does the ability to adapt quickly to evolving project needs. These skills are essential for developing and optimizing scalable, high-yield biological production processes while ensuring regulatory compliance and effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.

What is an Upstream Process Scientist job?

An Upstream Process Scientist is responsible for developing and optimizing the early stages of biopharmaceutical production, including cell culture, media preparation, and bioreactor operations. They work to improve cell growth, productivity, and scalability of biologics such as monoclonal antibodies or vaccines. Their role involves designing experiments, analyzing data, and troubleshooting issues to ensure efficient and reproducible upstream processes.

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What are the most commonly searched types of Upstream Process Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Upstream Process Scientist jobs are:
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Upstream Process Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Upstream Process Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,026 per year, or $42.3 per hour.
Senior Scientist, Viral Upstream Process Development

Senior Scientist, Viral Upstream Process Development

CEDENT

Philadelphia, PA

$92K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 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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