How to hire a bioprocess engineer

How to hire a bioprocess engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step bioprocess engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a bioprocess engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bioprocess engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a bioprocess engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a bioprocess engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a bioprocess engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a bioprocess engineer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of bioprocess engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Bioprocess Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Bioprocess Engineer	Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.	$33-68
   Biomedical Engineering Internship	In a biomedical engineering internship, an intern's duties usually depend on the directives of a supervising staff or manager. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering industry and workplace insights while performing support tasks such as preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, organizing files, maintaining databases, running errands, and assisting staff in various preparations and procedures... Show more	$22-42
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CIP
   • Pilot Plant
   • Scale-Up
   • Data Analysis
   • Drug Substance
   • Sops
   • R
   • Statistical Analysis
   • CMO
   • Technical Reports
   • DOE
   • PFD
   • CHO

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish QA of inspector worksheets during shipboard inspection, and generate certification report for government approval.
   • Coordinate off-site manufacturing, research and development activities with CMO's and CRO's.
   • Process development and optimization of human prourokinase (proUK) production by recombinant CHO cells.
   • Reformulate freeze-down media and process to facilitate thaw and scale-up with simplify operations and minimizing exposure to contaminants.
   • Support CMO initiatives by successfully completing process characterization studies and executing process validation studies at both small and large scales.
   • Propose and implement an architecture with significantly improve availability characteristics.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your bioprocess engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A bioprocess engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, bioprocess engineers' average salary in hawaii is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level bioprocess engineers earn 51% less than senior-level bioprocess engineers.
   • Certifications. A bioprocess engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a bioprocess engineer's salary.

   Average bioprocess engineer salary

   $99,153yearly

   $47.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level bioprocess engineer salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average bioprocess engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$121,567	$58
   2	Indiana	$104,820	$50
   3	Maryland	$104,587	$50
   4	Massachusetts	$103,038	$50
   5	New Jersey	$97,580	$47
   6	Kansas	$97,090	$47
   7	New York	$95,905	$46
   8	North Carolina	$93,215	$45
   9	Washington	$90,820	$44
   10	Wisconsin	$87,768	$42
   11	Missouri	$78,006	$38
   12	Utah	$69,454	$33
   13	Alabama	$58,777	$28

   Average bioprocess engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	CyberCoders	$128,764	$61.91	2
   2	Genentech	$123,561	$59.40	25
   3	Novartis	$119,396	$57.40	5
   4	Boehringer Ingelheim	$117,829	$56.65	7
   5	Wyeth Biopharma	$113,966	$54.79
   6	Catalent Pharma Solutions	$108,586	$52.20
   7	BASF	$107,636	$51.75	4
   8	Finch Therapeutics	$107,111	$51.50
   9	Asimov	$106,893	$51.39
   10	DermBiont	$106,892	$51.39
   11	Repertoire Immune Medicines	$106,477	$51.19
   12	Zymergen	$106,394	$51.15
   13	DSM Nutritional Products Inc	$104,863	$50.41
   14	EMD Millipore	$104,427	$50.21
   15	Joule Unlimited	$103,990	$50.00
   16	Modern Meadow	$100,812	$48.47
   17	BD	$97,128	$46.70	10
   18	Human Genome Sciences	$96,832	$46.55
   19	Corning Incorporated	$95,252	$45.79	57
   20	Novavax	$94,138	$45.26

4. Writing a bioprocess engineer job description

   A bioprocess engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a bioprocess engineer job description:

   Bioprocess engineer job description example

   • 2022 – Coty, Inc. – LT recycled carbon ethanol to be used in majority of fragrance portfolio by 2023
   • 2021 – ZARA – cutting edge, high fashion black dresses made from LT recycled carbon
   • 2021 – lululemon – sports apparel made from LT Recycled carbon
   • 2021 – L’Oréal – partnership to make packaging with LT recycled carbon

   Notable acknowledgments:

   • 2021 – Biofuels Digest #1 Hottest Company in Renewable Fuels, Chemicals & Biomaterials
   • 2020 – Biofuels Digest #3 Best Company to work for in the Advanced Bioeconomy
   • 2020 – Fast Company World Changing Company
   • 2020 – CNBC #43 on Top 50 Disrupter Companies list

   Interested in learning more? Visit us at www.LanzaTech.com and download/stream our latest CarbonSmartTM Podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify or wherever you receive your podcasts!

   This position is open to candidates authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer. LanzaTech is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

   About the role We have a unique opportunity for a sustainability-focused engineer to join the Process Integration research and development group at LanzaTech. Process Integration works on novel concept development of the bioreactor and downstream processes, is responsible for the pilot labs within LanzaTech headquarters, and provides technical support to commercial gas fermentation facilities. As a member of this team the successful candidate will operate pilot gas fermentation reactors and supporting systems, travel to global sites to advise fermentation operation, participate in experimental planning, and join cross-functional team-based projects with engineering, synthetic biology, and computational biology. This position has a global travel component of up to 50%. Key duties

   Site support

   • Travel to commercial sites around the world to assist in commissioning and start-up of gas fermentation plants.

   Fermentation operation

   • Operate both lab and pilot scale fermentation reactors and downstream separation systems.
   • Maintain lab and pilot scale equipment.
   • Make up fermentation media and dosing chemicals.

   Engineering concept development

   • Aid in development of novel process flow schemes around gas fermentation, especially integrating with up and down-stream processes.
   • Opportunity to propose, specify, and build modifications to pilot scale equipment.
   • Aid in development of next-generation gas fermentation bioreactor design.
   • Aid in development of control systems to assist in gas fermentation operations at commercial scale.
   • Write up novel concepts as invention disclosures and participate in the patent application process.

   Required Qualifications

   • Bachelor’s degree in engineering preferably with a biology focus (bioprocess, biochemical, biological).
   • 3+ years of research development and/or site commissioning experience or the equivalent in postgraduate study.
   • Passport & ability to travel.

   Preferred/Valued Qualifications

   • Master’s degree in microbiology, fermentation science, bioprocess engineering or a related field plus 3+ years industrial experience.
   • Prior experience with the design and development of bioprocesses, especially around scale-up and process optimization.
   • Knowledge or experience of gas fermentation technology by anaerobic acetogens.
   • Practical mechanical experience with pilot scale and larger bioprocess equipment.
   • Knowledge of analytics & instrumentation of biological processes.
   • Industrial site experience commissioning & troubleshooting biological process plants.
   • Experience with DCS/PLC programming and control loop tuning.

   Physical Requirements

   • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
   • Prolonged periods of standing in the lab.
   • Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
   • Must be able to traverse industrial process sites wearing safety gear.

   Work Environment

   • Based out of LanzaTech’s global headquarters in Skokie, IL.
   • Overseas and domestic travel, up to 50% for operations support.
   • Both desk and hands-on work in lab, pilot, and commercial sites.
   • Exposure to chemical hazards such as toxic and/or flammable gases and substances when working in the lab. Possible exposure to large industrial hazards while on commercial sites.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find bioprocess engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your bioprocess engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit bioprocess engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit bioprocess engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bioprocess engineer

   Once you've decided on a perfect bioprocess engineer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new bioprocess engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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