About the role

Aralez Bio is seeking a technician who has performed microbial enzyme production recovery and can collaboratively flex in upstream fermentation operations as needed. Enzyme production fuels the biocatalytic manufacturing of our noncanonical amino acids. As a startup we are constantly developing and improving our processes, and this role will be essential to our growth and success.

Successful candidates will have:

• Broad knowledge, some experience, and simple troubleshooting of typical microbial recovery unit operations:
  • Harvest: operational experience with tubular and/or disc-stack centrifugation.
  • Lysis: mechanical homogenization and effect of instrument parameters on recovery key quality attributes.
  • Protein precipitation: operational knowledge.
  • Tangential Flow Filtration: operational experience and knowledge of how parameters affect protein recovery and quality.
  • Assay: SDS PAGE gels for qualitative QC checks and results of process development work.
• A track record of working with cross-functional teams to ensure that production scheduling keeps pace with ongoing projects. We are a small tight-knit team where each person makes a substantial contribution to the success of the group.
• The ability to learn quickly coupled with a quality mindset keeping accurate notes in batch records and following SOPs to get consistent results in protein recovery.
• The ability to balance best practice and expediency to ensure the delivery of high-quality enzymes while meeting what is optimal for our aggressive timelines to develop new products that are currently being sold into the drug development industry.

Nice to have:

• Other downstream purification techniques: FPLC (His-tag purification; SEC chromatography), other possibly useful microbial chromatography techniques.
• Upstream operation experience in standard bioreactor fermentation to fill in production scheduling as needed for gaps due to vacations, illness etc.
• Experience in performing protein assays to measure activity: BCA, Bradford, activity assays.
• Very occasional ability to work extended hours and weekends.

What You’ll Do

• Develop more technical depth: With guidance and mentoring, operate all downstream processing equipment at the bench scale to recover enzymes from harvested cell paste.
• Collaborate: Present results at weekly meetings where any and all process issues are discussed.
• Innovate: Bring your ideas to collaboratively troubleshoot non-conformances in a small, tight-knit enzyme production team.
• Grow with the team: Engage in goal-specific projects within a matrixed project team, and ensure effective cross-functional communication and performance.
• Drive downstream enzyme recovery efforts, including shaping the next goals for process improvements and KPI tracking.
• Produce consistent enzymes: Conduct quantification assays for characterization and lot release of enzyme to amino acid production team,
• Troubleshoot complex expression challenges and develop strategies for difficult or novel proteins.
• Model technical excellence and data integrity across all stages of process development which may include scale-up.

What You’ll Bring

Must have experience with:

• Downstream unit ops process equipment, including equipment used for harvest, cell lysis, TFF, lyophilization, spray drying, and flash freezing.
• Refining SOPs.
• Generating and maintaining equipment and quality records.
• Maintaining databases and records of unit operations/production data and enzyme stocks.
• Working as part of a highly functioning, efficient team.

Nice to have experience with:

• Purification conditions, enzymatic by-products, and cofactors that will improve expression and solubility.
• Formulations in downstream processing such as additives and preservatives.
• Other downstream purification techniques.
• Upstream operations: bioreactor prep and operation.
• Enzyme activity screening.
• Project management and scheduling.

Essential traits:

• You are reliable, proactive, and a go-getter willing to jump right in.
• You have an ownership mindset and are a strategic thinker: setting goals and priorities when appropriate, creating and executing plans, measuring KPIs and metrics, and aligning tactics with key results.
• You’re incredibly nimble, scrappy, and will check-in before taking action in ambiguous situations. With appropriate input from others, you create solutions to problems and keep a positive attitude even when times are tough.
• You’re an open and efficient communicator who will surface critical issues quickly. If you see something, say something (or fix something).

Qualifications:

• MS with 0-1 years industry experience or
• BS with 1-4 years industry experience.

Compensation

Aralez Bio’s salary range for this position is $75,000-$95,000 per year, based on your performance and experience. In addition, your total rewards package will include equity and benefits.

Benefits at Aralez Bio

• Medical / dental / vision insurance coverage
• 401k
• Flexible Spending Account
• Unlimited time off policy
• Weekly catered lunch
• Professional Development opportunities
• Annual company retreat