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Scientist II, MSAT

Emeryville, CA

About Us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells. These products are not vegan or vegetarian—they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love. 

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood. 

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job: 

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on scientist to join our Bioprocess Development team, supporting process scale-up and technology transfer activities. This role will focus on executing and optimizing upstream and/or downstream processes and supporting the translation of processes from development into pilot and commercial manufacturing. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in bioprocess engineering and a willingness to operate at the interface of PD and Manufacturing, contributing to both experimental development and on-the-floor support. This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams to support tech transfer execution, troubleshoot process performance, and improve process robustness at scale. This is an excellent opportunity for a scientist who enjoys hands-on problem solving, working in a fast-paced environment, and contributing to the scale-up of complex biological processes in the cultivated meat space.

Responsibilities include: 

  • Support technology transfer activities by generating data, documenting process understanding, and assisting with implementation at pilot and manufacturing scales. 
  • Design, execute, and analyze benchtop and scale-down experiments to support process development, troubleshooting, and scale-up.
  • Apply process engineering principles (e.g., mixing, mass/gas transfer, and process control) to support scale-up and resolve performance challenges.
  • Apply knowledge of cell separation technologies (e.g., TFF, centrifugation) to support process development, scale-up, and downstream integration. 
  • Partner with PD, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to troubleshoot process issues and improve robustness during scale-up and campaign execution.
  • Assist in the installation, commissioning, and evaluation of new bioprocess equipment and technologies.
  • Analyze and interpret process data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
  • Communicate results and manage timelines to support cross-functional execution and program milestones.

About you:

  • PhD in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or related scientific discipline with 2+ years, or MS/BS with 5-7+ years, of relevant industry experience in bioprocess development, MSAT, or manufacturing support.
  • Strong foundation in bioprocess engineering principles, with experience in upstream cell culture and/or downstream processing.
  • Hands-on experience with bioreactor platforms (SUB and/or stainless steel) and control systems.
  • Demonstrated experience with statistically designed experiments (DoE) and data-driven process optimization.
  • Working knowledge of scale-up principles and technology transfer to pilot or manufacturing scale.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a detail-oriented and organized approach to problem solving.
  • Effective communicator, able to clearly present technical data and insights to cross-functional teams.
  • Comfortable working in a team-based, fast-paced environment, including on-the-floor manufacturing support and occasional off-hours coverage.
  • Proactive, ownership-driven mindset with enthusiasm for troubleshooting and continuous improvement.

Who you’ll work with:

  • You’ll work at the interface of PD and MSAT, partnering with Cell Line and Media teams to support process scale-up.
  • You’ll collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering on tech transfer and on-the-floor support, and with Analytical, Data, and Automation teams to drive process understanding and performance.

Compensation Range: $130,000 - $150,000*

*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits! 

  • Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
  • 84-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
  • Pet insurance for your furry family members!
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

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