Downstream Process Scientist - Biologics


Company:	Hays Specialist Recruitment
Salary:	£200 to £260 a day
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Slough, SL1 3WE
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	4 Sept 2026
Closing date:	25 Sept 2026

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Summary

Your new company

You'll be joining a global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative biologics. You'll work within a collaborative downstream process development team supporting molecules from preclinical development through to late-stage clinical manufacture and process validation.

The company has a track record of innovation and a highly collaborative culture.

Your new role

As a Downstream Process (DSP) Development Scientist, you will support the development, optimisation, and transfer of purification processes for antibody therapeutics.

This is initially a 12 month contract that is likely to extend and will be fully lab-based/on-site.

Key responsibilities include:

Developing and optimising downstream purification processes to support drug substance manufacture across preclinical, clinical, and validation-stage programmes

Supporting pilot-scale production activities and technology transfer into manufacturing environments

Applying process optimisation and modelling approaches, including DoE methodologies, to improve process robustness and performance

Analysing in-process and experimental samples, interpreting data, and generating recommendations to support project progression

Providing technical troubleshooting expertise across purification processes and supporting continuous improvement initiatives

Preparing technical reports, presentations, protocols, and development documentation to communicate results and recommendations

Collaborating closely with a variety of internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver project milestones

What you'll need to succeed

A successful candidate will combine downstream processing expertise with strong technical and problem-solving skills and also have:

A BSc/MSc or PhD (or equivalent experience) in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline

Hands-on experience in protein purification, downstream process development, or biologics manufacturing, preferably in an industry setting, eg biotech, CRO, CDMO or pharma company

Good experience of chromatography-based purification processes, ideally for antibodies or other biologic therapeutics (eg affinity, IEC, SEC, HIC, CEX)

Experience interpreting experimental data, troubleshooting technical challenges, and supporting process optimisation activities

Strong communication skills with the ability to contribute effectively within cross-functional project teams

The right to work in the UK until at least November 2027 (preferably beyond)

Experience within a biopharmaceutical environment, technology transfer activities, DoE, or protein characterisation would be an advantage for this role

What you'll get in return

The opportunity to support programmes from preclinical development through to Phase III and process validation, as well as strong cross-functional exposure across multiple departments as part of a highly collaborative and experienced team.

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Keywords: Downstream, Process, Development, Scientist, Research, Pharmaceutical, Antibody, Purification, Chromatography, HPLC, Protein, Biologics, Recovery, Manufacturing, Technology, Transfer, Optimisation, Characterisation, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Validation, Pilot, Scale, Therapeutics, DoE, Analytical, Drug, Substance, Processing, GMP, Separation

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