Field Application Scientist- Upstream BioProcessing

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Laboratory Setting, Office

Job Description

How You Will Make an Impact
At Thermo Fisher Scientific, our mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. 
As a Field Application Scientist (FAS) within the BioProduction Group, you will serve as a bioprocessing domain expert, helping biotechnology and biopharmaceutical customers accelerate adoption of single-use upstream bioprocess technologies, process design, and process optimization across upstream workflows.
You will engage customers on a peer-to-peer, application-focused basis, providing technical leadership and process insight before, during, and after the sale. Acting as both a trusted advisor and problem solver, you will ensure customers achieve compliance, speed, and performance using Thermo Fisher Scientific solutions while helping shape our future innovations through Voice of Customer (VOC) feedback.

What You Will Do
•    Serve as a technical expert and consultant, applying deep knowledge across cell culture, seed train development, bioreactor operation, media and feeds strategies, perfusion and single-use technologies.
•    Engage customers as a trusted technical advisor to support mammalian cell culture process development, scale-up, process optimization, and the implementation of single-use upstream technologies.
•    Lead pre- and post-sales technical activities, including product evaluations, proof-of-principle (PoP) studies, demos, pilot runs, and technology qualifications in regulated environments.
•    Provide comprehensive troubleshooting as the entry point for quality and performance issues, collaborating with Quality, Field Service, and Technical Support to ensure fast and compliant resolution.
•    Deliver technical training for both internal and external audiences, covering process scientists, engineers, and operators, to build capability and confidence in Thermo Fisher Scientific systems.
•    Conduct workflow consulting and GEMBA walks at customer sites to identify process improvement opportunities and align solutions with operational goals.
•    Support Bioprocessing Development Center (BDC) activities and on-site demonstrations, ensuring consistent messaging and technical excellence.
•    Develop and implement adoption plans with measurable achievements (e.g., time-to-first-run, time-to-first-GMP lot) and conduct follow-up utilization reviews.
•    Document all activities in CRM/SFDC, maintaining accurate technical engagement records, win plans, and risk mitigation plans.
•    Collaborate cross-functionally with Account Managers, Field Service Engineers, Technical Support, Product Management, R&D, and Quality/Regulatory to deliver seamless end-to-end outcomes.
•    Gather and communicate the Voice of Customer (VOC) to inform product roadmaps, feature development, and best-practice content (application notes, white papers, and case studies).
•    Represent Thermo Fisher Scientific at industry events, including conferences, workshops, and webinars, by delivering workflow-based technical presentations and thought leadership.

How You Will Get There
Education
•    BS/MS/PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biotechnology, or a related discipline (or equivalent bioprocessing experience).
Experience
•    5+ years of hands-on experience supporting mammalian cell culture operations, upstream process development, MSAT or GMP manufacturing using single-use bioreactor technologies.
•    Hands-on experience with single-use bioreactors (5–2,000 L+), mammalian cell culture, fed-batch and/or perfusion processes.
•    Proven record of technical engagement and process troubleshooting in Upstream Process Development and cGMP environments.
•    Experience supporting scale-up, tech transfer, and process optimization projects from development to manufacturing.
•    Strong expertise in single-use upstream bioprocess technologies, including bioreactors, mixers, fluid transfer assemblies, and associated fluid management systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
•    Deep understanding of upstream bioprocess workflows, mammalian cell culture, cGMP principles and regulatory expectations (FDA, EMA, Annex 1).
•    Ability to interpret URS, P&IDs, batch records, and qualification protocols; comfortable with automation systems and process control HMIs.
•    Skilled in process design, optimization, and workflow consulting, using data-driven analysis to identify improvements.
•    Familiarity with PAT tools , DoE, and QbD principles (ICH Q8/9/10).
•    Knowledge of ASME-BPE standards and risk-based extractables/leachables evaluations for single-use systems.
•    Proficient in data analysis tools (Excel, JMP; scripting a plus) and technical writing.
•    Strong problem-solving, and influencing skills; effective in multi-functional collaboration.
•    Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to scientists, engineers, and manufacturing teams, building credibility with customers at all organizational levels.
•    Experience using Salesforce.com (SFDC CRM) for opportunity and activity tracking.
 

Our Mission
At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we are driven by our mission to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Join our Bioproduction team and help our customers deliver life-changing medicines through innovation in bioprocessing and technical partnership.