Director
Key Responsibilities Scientific & Technical Leadership
Define the scientific and technical strategy for microbial process development and scale-up
Provide technical direction across upstream fermentation, downstream processing, and analytical development
Establish development strategies to ensure process robustness, reproducibility, scalability, and manufacturability
Serve as the senior technical authority for critical process and scale-up decisions
Process Development & Scale-Up
Lead translation of biological processes from laboratory development through pilot and commercial scale
Establish scale-up strategies and performance targets for productivity, yield, and process robustness
Direct process characterization, risk assessment, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement
Oversee process data review and guide experimental and development strategies
Technical Operations & Manufacturing
Provide strategic oversight for pilot-scale operations and manufacturing readiness
Lead technology transfer from R&D to pilot and commercial manufacturing
Provide technical leadership for process equipment selection and manufacturing facility development
Establish technical standards for process execution and manufacturing operations
Organizational & Cross-Functional Leadership
Define technical priorities, development roadmaps, and resource allocation across programs
Build, mentor, and lead multidisciplinary scientific and technical teams
Partner with Research, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to advance development and manufacturing objectives
Provide technical representation in strategic discussions with senior leadership and external partners
Qualifications The following qualifications represent the core requirements necessary for success in this role:
PhD in Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific or engineering discipline, with 12+ years of relevant industry experience; or Master's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience.
Significant leadership experience in bioprocess development, biomanufacturing, or biotechnology, with demonstrated responsibility for technical strategy and execution.
Deep expertise in microbial fermentation and downstream process development, including scale-up principles and process optimization.
Demonstrated experience advancing processes from laboratory or bench scale to pilot-scale manufacturing.
Proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary scientific and engineering teams.
Demonstrated ability to establish technical priorities, make complex scientific and engineering decisions, and manage multiple development programs.
Strong track record of solving complex process development and scale-up challenges.
Experience working effectively across scientific, engineering, quality, and manufacturing functions.
Excellent leadership, communication, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving, and highly collaborative environment.
Preferred Qualifications The following qualifications are not required but would be highly valuable for the role:
15+ years of experience in industrial biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, microbial fermentation, or large-scale biomanufacturing.
Experience taking a biological product or manufacturing process through the full lifecycle from early development to commercial production.
Experience establishing or scaling a process development, bioprocess engineering, or technical operations organization.
Direct experience with pilot-scale and commercial-scale fermentation systems, including equipment in the multi-thousand-liter range.
Experience leading the design, buildout, commissioning, or technical operation of pilot or commercial biomanufacturing facilities.
Strong working knowledge of downstream processing, including product recovery, separation, purification, and formulation operations.
Experience with technology transfer to CDMOs, CMOs, or internal commercial manufacturing facilities.
Experience with process economics, capacity planning, manufacturing strategy, and evaluation of cost of goods.
Experience interacting with equipment vendors, engineering firms, external manufacturing partners, and strategic customers.
Experience developing technical governance systems, stage-gate processes, or portfolio management frameworks for development programs.
Experience working in a startup, scale-up, or high-growth industrial biotechnology environment.
Experience supporting products used in industrial, mining, environmental, agricultural, or specialty chemical applications.
Our Values Customer First: Our first and foremost priority is to give customers technology that makes their business more valuable. There is no deviation from this north star
Play to Win: This is a professional team, not a family. Hardcore work ethic is a baseline; measurable impact is how we define success
Extreme Ownership: We are self-starters who learn voraciously, master our domain, and take full accountability for the outcomes of our work
Relentless Execution: A good idea is meaningless until it is solving a customer problem. Moving with speed, focus, and determination is how we win in our industry
Radical Candor: Focused, direct, and impactful communication is our language. No time for beating around the bush
Shared Success: Meaningful equity participation for employees means that when MaverickX wins, everyone wins
Uncompromised Integrity: We do first-class business in a first-class way, while staying loyal to our customers, shareholders, employees, and country
Benefits At Maverick X, our compensation packages reflect our recognition of the value our employees bring to our success and our commitment to recruiting top talent. We cater our benefits to ensure our team succeeds both in and out of the office
Premium health insurance: With medical, dental, and optical options, we offer some of the best coverage on the market
Continuing education: We take employee development seriously and strive to unlock our team’s full potential through continuous learning initiatives