Principal Engineer, Director of Manufacturing

Biosphere is developing next-generation biomanufacturing systems designed for scale, reliability, and cost efficiency. By replacing traditional steam-based infrastructure with proprietary UV sterilization, the company enables simpler, modular production that can be deployed anywhere. The company serves as a manufacturing partner for the bioeconomy, supporting the production of food, fuels, chemicals, and materials through efficient, rapidly deployable systems. We are funded by top technology investors and have multiple ongoing collaborations with the DOW. Learn more at https://www.biosphere.io/about.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced engineer to lead the design, construction, and commissioning of our demonstration-scale biomanufacturing facility in the Bay Area. This FOAK facility will prove out our UV sterilization technology and serve our first customers. You will own this project from detailed engineering through startup and into steady-state operations. This role is expected to be in person or >50% time on site.

Responsibilities

• Own the detailed engineering design of the demonstration facility, including P&IDs, equipment specifications, and facility layout.
• Lead procurement of major process equipment (bioreactors, DSP equipment, CIP systems, utilities, instrumentation) and manage vendor relationships.
• Coordinate with contractors and trades during construction and installation.
• Lead commissioning, qualification, and startup of all process systems.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, process, and controls issues as they come up during construction and commissioning.
• Translate bench and pilot-scale designs into a production-ready facility.
• Build the operational foundation for running the facility.

Qualifications

• Direct experience leading the design, build, commissioning, and startup of a pilot, demo, or production-scale facility.
• 10+ years of experience in bioprocessing or related process industries.
• Strong fundamentals in fermentation, downstream processing, and/or CIP/SIP systems.
• Hands-on experience managing equipment vendors, contractors, and procurement.
• Ability to read and develop engineering drawings including P&IDs, mechanical layouts, and electrical schematics.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment with limited infrastructure.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with emerging technologies
• Familiarity with automation and controls systems
• Exposure to DOW or government-funded R&D programs.
• Previous startup experience.

Benefits

At Biosphere, our goal is to empower talented individuals who are driven by the desire to work on tackling society's biggest challenges. To that end, we take pride in striving to be an equal opportunity employer with a healthy work culture, creating an environment where high performers can thrive. We currently offer the following benefits:

• Competitive compensation through a mix of salary and equity.
• Paid vacation and sick/leave days + public holidays.
• Comprehensive health insurance for employees and their dependents, including dental and vision.
• Paid family leave.
• Memberships at Pacific Pipe Climbing gym next door.

This Role Might Be For You If You:

• Have built something like this before and want to do it again with better technology.
• Are excited about biomanufacturing and want to make it more accessible.
• Want to own a project end-to-end, from engineering design through commissioning.

Biosphere is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.