Lead Scientist - Novel Biomolecule Process Development in Cambridge

Lead Scientist – Novel Biomolecule Process Development

We are seeking a driven Lead Scientist to strengthen our route to commercialisation, enabling the scalable production of peptides and proteins with non‑standard amino acids from our proprietary recoded strain of E. coli (Syn61).

The role involves technical process development and communication between commercial and scientific teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimise, and scale‑up purification and processing strategies for a range of novel recombinant therapeutic proteins and peptides.
• Utilise various protein analytical techniques to assess quality and stability.
• Plan and conduct experiments for process optimisation, characterisation and quantification.
• Support technology transfer to manufacturing and assist with process validation activities.
• Contribute to the techno‑economic assessment of bioprocesses.
• Stay current with the latest peptide processing techniques and technologies.
• Ensure work is performed in accordance with safety and quality system procedures.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, Biotechnology, or related field; Ph D preferred.
• Demonstrated project delivery in a relevant industrial setting. Experience in a GMP environment is a plus.
• Experience developing purification and processing strategies for protein and peptide products, ideally for use in scalable production of therapeutics.
• Extensive experience in method development and characterization of proteins and small peptides via LC/MS and HPLC.
• Experience purifying recombinant proteins via chromatographic methods using AKTA systems (primary capture, ion‑exchange, HIC).
• A track record of successfully transferring methods to external CRO/CMO suppliers for execution at scale.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within a matrix‑managed environment and manage time across multiple projects.

Desirable Skills

• Understanding or technical experience with solid‑phase peptide synthesis.
• Experience developing methods for multiple‑step chemical modifications on peptides or small molecules for transfer to scalable operations.
• Experience with design‑of‑experiment (DOE) methodology.
• Familiarity with Quality by Design (Qb D) principles.
• Familiarity with high‑cell‑density fermentation for E. coli in bench‑top bioreactors.
• Previous experience with tech transfer and scale‑up processes.
• Understanding and experience interacting with the regulatory environment for recombinantly produced therapeutic proteins (CMC).

Benefits

• Newly fitted dedicated site in Whittlesford near Cambridge – on‑site parking and regular trains to Cambridge, London and Norwich.
• Competitive salary.
• Employee share option plan.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Private health insurance.
• Pension plan (matching up to 8%).
• Collaborative and pioneering environment at the leading edge of synthetic genomics and engineered translation.

Constructive Bio is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

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