P3P3 — Mid-Level Professional
Research & Development – Process Development (Downstream) Scientist
Develops and optimizes purification workflows to achieve robust, scalable processes that maximize yield and product quality.
What this level means
Fully competent professional; works independently on standard projects
- Scope
- Features or a sub-system end-to-end
- Autonomy
- Works independently on standard work; reviewed on the non-standard
- Complexity
- Diverse problems; adapts existing approaches
- Impact
- Project / team outcomes
- Decision rights
- Owns implementation decisions for own scope
- Leadership
- Mentors juniors informally
- Typical experience
- 3–5 yrs
What you'd do
- Develop and optimize purification workflows
- Plan and perform bench-scale experiments
- Analyze process data
- Collaborate with manufacturing/MSAT teams
- Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards
- Document experimental procedures and results
- Present findings to cross-functional teams
- Contribute to process scale-up and tech transfer
- Maintain knowledge of industry trends and advancements
- Design and execute purification experiments
- Analyze and interpret experimental data
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams
- Ensure compliance with quality standards
- Document and present research findings
Skills, knowledge & tools
- Purification process development
- Data analysis
- Experimental design
- Technical writing
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Project management
- Bioprocess development
- Protein purification techniques
- Scale-up processes
- Quality and safety standards
- Biochemistry
- Chemical engineering principles
- Biotechnology applications
- Regulatory requirements
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Good communication skills
- Collaboration and adaptability
- Technical expertise in purification processes
- Project Management Skills
- Innovation and creativity
- Regulatory compliance understanding
What good looks like
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related field
- 2–5 years of experience in bioprocess development or protein purification
- Advanced degree (Ph.D.) preferred
- Experience with scale-up or tech transfer to manufacturing
Common titles
Downstream Process Development IIIDownstream Process Development 3Mid-Level Downstream Process DevelopmentDownstream Process Developer IIIDownstream Process Developer 3Mid-Level Downstream Process DeveloperBiologic Product Purification IIIBiologic Product Purification 3Mid-Level Biologic Product PurificationResearch & Development – Process Development (Downstream) ScientistResearch Scientist
Where it sits & what it pays
O*NET / SOC: 19-0000 — Life, Physical, & Social Science Occupations(inferred · under review)
Market-pay benchmarks for this family × level are coming — JobFrame anchors pay to the family/level structure rather than the raw title.