Senior Scientist 1 — Synthetic and Mammalian Upstream

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

CPI has an exciting opportunity to join our Biologics team as a Senior Scientist 1 – Synthetic & Mammalian Upstream. You will play a key role in developing and scaling innovative upstream processes for the production of advanced biologics, including recombinant proteins, mRNA, viral vectors, and other cutting-edge modalities. Working in a collaborative environment, you will contribute to projects that shape the future of biopharmaceutical manufacturing and help deliver life-changing therapies to patients.

The CPI Biologics technical group works on a varied portfolio of projects, working with a wide range of products including monoclonal antibodies, viral vectors, recombinant proteins, microbial therapeutics and synthetically produced nucleic acids using conventional and advanced manufacturing approaches. The work of the group is diverse, examples including:

Integrating continuous technologies for the rapid, cost-effective delivery of biotherapeutics to patients — https://www.uk-cpi.com/case-studies/continuous‑2

3D Bio-Tissues: Cellular agriculture: formulating growth media for cultivated meat production — https://​www​.uk​-cpi​.com/​c​a​s​e​-​s​t​u​d​i​e​s​/​3​d​-​b​i​o​-​t​i​ssues

Developing a cell free expression system — https://​www​.uk​-cpi​.com/​c​a​s​e​-​s​t​u​d​i​e​s​/​c​e​l​l​-​f​r​e​e​-​e​x​p​r​e​ssion

The Role:

Key tasks in the Senior Scientist I role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Lead and deliver experimentation for synthetic and mammalian expression systems for biologics production (proteins, mRNA, viral vectors).
• Design, develop, and scale-up upstream processes using bioreactor systems (single-use or reusable).
• Apply molecular biology, cell biology, and bioprocessing techniques, including high-throughput screening and analytical methods.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, Data Integrity, and SHE standards, maintaining rigorous documentation and quality practices.
• Analyse and interpret experimental data, prepare reports, and present findings internally and to clients.
• Provide mentoring and technical guidance to team members.
• Maintain and calibrate equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.

To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Professional mastery of molecular, cellular, and vector biology and upstream processing, gained in academic or industrial environments.
• Significant practical experience using and/​or developing expression systems for protein and nucleic acid-based products, including mammalian and/​or cell-free systems.
• Hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture, working with different expression systems (CHO, HEK), adherent and suspension cell lines and experience with batch and perfusion culture. 
• Experience with molecular biology techniques such as cloning (vector design, restriction, ligation, transformation), and relevant analytical techniques (qPCR, SDS-PAGE, ELISA, cell-based assays).
• Experience leading technical development projects and solving complex technical problems.
• Ability to supervise and train other team members 
• Ability to apply experimental design and statistical concepts to experimental planning and data interpretation.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or higher) in a scientific or engineering discipline with relevant industrial experience.
• Advanced qualifications (Master’s or PhD) and experience in bioprocessing are highly desirable.

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.