Overview

Chemical Engineer - London

BioOrbit is pioneering space-based drug manufacturing. We use microgravity to grow high-quality protein crystals, enabling easier, at-home injectable therapies. As part of our recent success we are looking to grow our team.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Chemical Engineer with specialized expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing and fluidics to revolutionize drug production in space. This role combines advanced fluidics engineering with pharmaceutical process development to create groundbreaking manufacturing systems that operate autonomously in microgravity environments. You will be responsible for designing and optimizing complex pharmaceutical processes and ensuring full regulatory compliance for space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing. This position offers the unique opportunity to pioneer the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing beyond Earth, creating technologies that will enable high-quality drug production in orbit while meeting the most stringent regulatory and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize pharmaceutical manufacturing processes for microgravity environments, focusing on fluidic systems, process efficiency, and scalability from prototype to operational manufacturing.


• Lead end-to-end development lifecycle of fluidic devices, from conceptual design through fabrication, assembly, testing, and flight qualification.


• Drive quality assurance and regulatory compliance initiatives, ensuring adherence to FDA, EMA, and ICH guidelines while developing novel regulatory pathways for space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing.


• Develop and implement comprehensive safety protocols, conducting detailed risk assessments, hazard analyses, and establishing contamination control procedures for space environments.


• Execute and oversee testing campaigns for pharmaceutical payload systems, including process validation, sterility testing, and performance verification under simulated space conditions.


• Create and maintain critical technical documentation, including process flow diagrams, batch records, validation protocols, regulatory submissions, and operational procedures.


• Lead technical collaboration across multidisciplinary teams through design reviews, process optimization meetings, and regulatory strategy sessions.


• Advance fluidic manufacturing capabilities by researching novel fabrication techniques, materials compatibility, and process intensification methods for space applications.

Technical Skills + Core Competencies

• Proficiency in fluidics design and simulation software (COMSOL Multiphysics, ANSYS Fluent, AutoCAD) and pharmaceutical process modeling tools.


• Deep expertise in fluid mechanics, heat and mass transfer phenomena at microscale, and transport processes in microgravity environments.


• Hands-on experience with fluidic device fabrication techniques, including soft lithography, MEMS processes, 3D printing, and cleanroom manufacturing.


• Comprehensive knowledge of chemical reaction kinetics, mixing phenomena, and residence time distribution in microreactor systems.


• Strong background in pharmaceutical regulatory standards (21 CFR Part 211, ICH Q guidelines, EU GMP) and experience navigating regulatory approval processes.


• Proven experience in process scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing process validation from laboratory to production scale.


• Expertise in analytical chemistry and quality control methodologies, including HPLC, spectroscopy, and particle characterization techniques.


• Knowledge of sterile processing, aseptic manufacturing, and contamination control strategies for pharmaceutical production.


• Strong project management skills with experience leading cross-functional development teams.


• Excellent technical communication abilities with experience presenting to regulatory agencies and senior stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering or research experience in fluidics, pharmaceutical engineering, or bioprocessing.


• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in fluidics device development, pharmaceutical process engineering, or biotechnology manufacturing.


• Demonstrated expertise in fluidic device design, fabrication, and characterization with a portfolio of successful projects.


• Strong preference for candidates with pharmaceutical manufacturing experience, regulatory submission experience, or space/aerospace industry background.


• Knowledge of MEMS fabrication techniques, cleanroom operations, and pharmaceutical validation methodologies highly valued.


• Experience with process analytical technology (PAT) and continuous manufacturing processes preferred.


• Familiarity with space environment constraints including radiation effects, thermal cycling, and microgravity fluid behavior advantageous.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a team that is at the forefront of innovation and pushing the boundaries of in space manufacturing.

If you feel this role is of interest, please apply and one of the team from Innoforge will be in touch.

Unfortunately, sponsorship cannot be provided for this position.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time