Senior Engineer - Project Management

This is an ambitious early-stage team revolutionizing sustainable agriculture by developing cutting-edge in vitro plant cell culture methods to produce cotton and other essential crops. Our mission is to redefine how we grow these products, achieving faster production cycles that use significantly less land, water, and energy. With a sharp focus on addressing global environmental challenges, we’re building innovative, resource-efficient alternatives to conventional agricultural practices.

This is a collaborative, inclusive environment where science, technology, and sustainability intersect. You’ll join a passionate team dedicated to advancing cellular agriculture through creative problem-solving, rigorous research, and cross-functional teamwork—all while driving meaningful change in the way we produce the resources the world relies on.

Role Overview

• Engineering Expertise: You'll handle technical aspects of designing and refining bioreactor systems and production processes. You’ll ensure processes are scalable and efficient, managing risks and maintaining quality.
• Project Management: You’re expected to manage projects using Agile and Scrum methodologies, ensuring projects stay within scope, on schedule, and within budget.
• Mentorship and Influence: You’ll mentor junior engineers, foster team collaboration, and guide leadership with data-driven insights.

Key Responsibilities

• Engineering Process Development and Optimization: Lead efforts to make lab-scale production methods suitable for full-scale manufacturing. This involves experimenting with and fine-tuning processes for consistent results and quality at larger scales.
• Project Planning and Agile Management: Define project scope, timelines, and budgets. Act as a Scrum Master to keep project tasks focused and coordinated, overseeing daily stand-ups and milestone reviews.
• Technology Transfer and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitate the transfer of new technologies or methods from R&D to manufacturing, coordinating with other departments to ensure smooth integration.
• Equipment Design, Validation, and Maintenance: Select and validate equipment needed for production, ensuring compliance with regulations. This includes creating testing and maintenance protocols and training junior staff.
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Compliance: Ensure that manufacturing practices meet regulatory standards, leading audits and compliance training for the team.
• Risk Management and Issue Resolution: Identify and manage project risks, develop methods to resolve challenges, and coach the team on safety and risk mitigation practices.
• Continuous Improvement and Process Optimization: Review completed projects to identify improvements, using data insights to enhance both project management and engineering workflows.

Key Competencies

• Engineering Excellence: Strong knowledge of bioreactor systems and process scaling.
• Agile and Scrum Proficiency: Familiarity with Agile principles, ideally certified in PMP or Scrum, to lead projects in an engineering environment.
• Risk Management: Ability to foresee and mitigate operational risks.
• Collaboration and Communication: Skilled in working with cross-functional teams and communicating clearly across departments.
• Influence: Ability to shape strategies and provide insight for decision-making.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in engineering with demonstrated project management expertise, preferably in Agile environments.
• Education: BS or MS degree in Engineering, Biotechnology, Industrial Engineering (with a focus on Biomanufacturing or Process Engineering) or related field.
• Experience with bioreactor operations, manufacturing, and compliance. Ideally, experience with control systems and risk management.
• Project Management Certification: (PMP, PMI-ACP, or Scrum Master) preferred.
• Strong Leadership and Communication Skills: Ability to mentor others, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively with diverse audiences.