Senior Biochemical Engineer (Oxford)

Senior Biochemical Engineer – Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK

We are looking for a Senior Biochemical Engineering all-star to join our team and help shape the future of bioprocessing!

Salary: £45,000-£58,000

KalvoTech is an agile company that seeks to rethink bioprocessing. We take a slalom-style approach to realise solutions to take production from bench to business. As an early starter, you will have the opportunity to define your work environment.

At KalvoTech, we developed Prokitein, a novel protein-based biopolymer produced using only widely available, natural, sustainable materials, which is water-stable, mechanically tuneable, has tuneable porosity and is steam-in-place compatible. With Prokitein, we developed edible hollow fibre membranes for bioprocessing. Using these membranes, we are developing a bioreactor platform to take advantage of the highly efficient nature of these systems for the single-step production of structured tissues forcultivated meat.

As a Senior Biochemical Engineer, you will be responsible for helping design and realise our bioreactor platform. You will help influence and drive strategy in the bioprocess department and development of our bioreactor platform. In collaboration with the executive team, you will manage the bioprocess department and bioreactor platform development project. You will establish and execute objectives for the department and bioreactor platform development project. As a forward thinker who thrives in a fast-paced environment, your experience with bioreactors and bioprocess development will make you an essential team member, bringing concepts to commercialisation.

Responsibilities Include:

• Designing, developing, and optimising end-to-end pilot-scale bioreactor processes.
• Developing and enabling technologies to facilitate scale-up.
• Select, implement, and develop experimental protocols and SOPs.
• Assist in drafting risk assessments and upholding health and safety standards.
• Design, plan, and execute R&D studies in line with project deliverables and timelines.
• Analysing and summarising experimental results and sharing insights with the team.
• Working with the cross-functional team to advance and commercialise KalvoTech's products and services.
• Stay updated with the latest technologies and literature to spot opportunities for process developments.
• Shared responsibility for out-of-hours bioprocess operation.

You should have:

• Enthusiasm, curiosity, and drive.
• At least 3 years of bioprocess development experience in industry or a PhD in biochemical engineering, bioprocessing, biomanufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Experience with small-scale bioreactor platforms.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and analytical techniques.
• Proven experience in cell culture.
• Familiarity with 3D culture systems
• Experience with CAD.
• Data analysis with non-Excel tools (e.g. Python, R, MATLAB).
• Experience with PFDs, P&IDs, and HAZOP analysis.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience with perfusion bioreactor systems.
• Experience with hollow fibre membrane bioreactors.
• Experience with membrane characterisation.
• Experience in muscle or fat biology, cell metabolism and development.
• Knowledge of the cultivated meat industry.
• Technical development and scale-up of bioprocesses.
• Application of Design of Experiments.

Salary & Benefits:

• Starting mid-February 2025.
• Salary: £45,000-58,000
• Full-Time, Permanent.
• Stock option plan.
• Pension plan.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays per holiday year.
• Based on the UK's leading science and innovation campus.
• Supportive and collaborative environment.

We're a small, driven organisation that isn't afraid to think differently. We are looking for a like-minded individual to join our team and help shape an emerging and ground-breaking industry. As part of the team joining the founders, you will also have the opportunity to help shape the future of the company. Staying true to our slalom style, we move quickly from milestone to milestone to achieve our goals. As such, no two days at KalvoTech are the same. If this appeals to you, we would love to hear from you.