Downstream Processing Engineer

About ZymoChem

ZymoChem is breakthrough science for a fossil-free future.  We accelerate the transition to a real-zero economy by developing bio-based materials for everyday products.  Our platform is powered by proprietary carbon conserving (C2) microbes that convert renewable feedstocks into high-value materials while radically minimizing CO2 loss during the production phase.  

ZymoChem recently closed a $21 million Series A round of fundraising to support the launch of our first high-performance material and to advance our first partnered product to commercial scale.  In addition to this funding from premier domestic & international venture capital firms, we are also supported by existing revenues from commercial partnerships with world-leading companies and funding from multiple government awards, including a 2023 $4MM grant from the Department of Energy. 

With a plan to double our team in 2024-25, we seek candidates who are motivated by science & innovation and have a passion to push the boundaries of materials performance.  We are collaborative, multidisciplinary, and relentlessly committed to creating a chemicals, materials, and products industry in tune with the 21st century. 

Our Mission: To catalyze a real-zero economy with drop-in, bio-based solutions.

Our Vision: To live in a world in which the goods we depend on every day are bio-manufactured from 100% renewable materials and designed for a sustainable economy - without compromise.

Our Values: Lead with Compassion, Aspire Collectively, Evolve Continuously, Innovate with Impact, Scale Sustainably

Position Summary

ZymoChem is looking for a talented and experienced Downstream Processing Engineer to join a rapidly expanding Process Development & Scale-up (PD&S) group. This role is a career-defining opportunity to gain diverse experiences in developing and scaling commercially relevant unit operations to develop innovative bio-based materials. In this role, you will have an opportunity to develop and optimize purification processes with other internal R&D groups as well as the company’s external partners to accelerate the scale-up of purification processes from the benchtop to the pilot and manufacturing scale. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize commercially scalable and cost-effective processes for the recovery and purification of microbial fermentation-based products.
• Lead efforts at various scales, ranging from bench to manufacturing in developing and optimizing DSP process.
• Lead small molecule recovery efforts including and not limited to distillation , Filtration and Ion exchange. 
• Design and execute experiments at lab scale for both proof-of-concept and benchmarking studies to meet project milestones aimed at achieving product purity and performance at industrial specifications.
• Analyze, document, and interpret data clearly and communicate results to other members of the team and propose next steps. 
• Research and summarize relevant scientific literature to develop and optimize the recovery process. Work with other engineers to troubleshoot and improve processes through novel and creative scientific