Job Description

Senior Process Development Scientist, Upstream

Location: Oxford, UK

Department: CMC

Overview

Join Immunocore as a Senior Process Development Scientist, Upstream. The role focuses on design and execution of upstream process development for mammalian (primarily CHO) and microbial systems to support manufacturing and clinical development. The role includes regulatory oversight activities and collaboration with CDMOs for GMP-upstream manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct experiments, observe results, interpret data, and respond to findings.
• Design experimental protocols and write reports; plan experiments and set priorities with guidance from line manager.
• Maintain and increase technical knowledge through self-study, conferences, and training.
• Maintain accurate records in laboratory notebooks, following company procedures.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance; operate equipment per safety guidelines; report faults promptly.
• Provide technical oversight to ensure regulatory compliance and support external upstream manufacturing at GMP; review batch records; liaise with CDMOs and support development or troubleshooting of upstream processes.

Specific Responsibilities

• Independently test and increasingly lead lines of investigation; propose new experiments based on data; support manufacturing at GMP; support pre-clinical, clinical, analytical assays, and regulatory submissions; write and review protocols and reports.
• Establish priorities for own work and team projects; make priority decisions with line manager input.
• Share technical knowledge across the team and departments; may mentor or manage new hires; assess and adopt new techniques; advise on equipment acquisition.
• Maintain up-to-date laboratory records and provide guidance to others on record-keeping.
• Provide technical guidance on equipment use and process improvements; participate in reporting to senior management and partners; ensure compliance with Immunocore Quality system.
• Champion Health & Safety practices and provide ad-hoc training as required.

Person Specification

Essential – Experience & Knowledge

• Bench-based mammalian process development in biopharmaceutical labs; expertise to execute and optimize mammalian expression in bioreactors.
• Support upstream biologics production for downstream processes, analytics, and formulation studies.
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to interpret complex datasets and propose experimental strategies.
• Awareness of cGMP and biopharmaceutical manufacturing requirements.
• Practical knowledge of mammalian cell culture for lab-scale expression and scale-up; microbial expression in shake-flask and bioreactors.
• Experience driving changes to improve efficiency; ability to meet deadlines; effective communication of complex data.
• Mentor and coach colleagues; ability to work with minimal guidance; continuous learning of new technologies; ability to network across teams.

Desirable

• Molecular biology skills; understanding of ICH cell bank characterisation and test methods.
• Experience with process scale-up, DoE, QbD, and small-scale systems (e.g., Ambr) for robustness.
• Experience with analytical methods (SDS-PAGE, Octet, HPLC).
• Ability to liaise with USP, DSP, and Analytical teams for seamless project transfer to manufacturing; technology transfer to CDMOs and troubleshooting.
• Regulatory CMC document writing contributions (IND/IMPD).
• Current knowledge of drug development for biotherapeutics and external collaboration contributions.

Education & Qualifications

• Essential: BSc or MSc in protein/biochemical engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, or related field.
• Desirable: PhD in related discipline; relevant industrial or post-doctoral experience.

About the Company

Immunocore (NASDAQ: IMCR) is a pioneering T cell receptor biotechnology company focused on transforming therapies in oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disease. We develop soluble TCR platform and ImmTAX molecules to harness the immune system for targeted therapies. Immunocore is an equal opportunity employer and values STRIDE: Science, Trust, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship.