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DSP Downstream Bioprocess Engineer - Job Opportunity at Lonza

Visp, Switzerland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 15, 2025
On-site
CHF 90,000 - CHF 130,000 annually (approximately USD 98,000 - USD 142,000), reflecting Switzerland's premium salary market for biotechnology professionals and Lonza's position as a leading global CDMO

Benefits

Comprehensive relocation assistance package for eligible candidates and their families, providing significant value for international talent acquisition and reducing personal relocation costs
Career ownership philosophy allowing employees to drive their professional development and take ownership of impactful projects
Opportunity to work on products and services that positively impact millions of people globally, providing meaningful work satisfaction
Access to complex problem-solving challenges in life sciences that enhance professional growth and expertise
Exposure to international operations across five continents, offering global career development opportunities

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic oversight and execution planning for critical microbial fermentation manufacturing campaigns, directly impacting production efficiency and product quality outcomes
Drive comprehensive risk management initiatives across safety, health, environmental, and operational domains, ensuring regulatory compliance and minimizing business disruption
Establish and maintain high-quality production documentation systems including electronic batch records, serving as the foundation for regulatory approval and audit success
Execute manufacturing operations under stringent cGMP guidelines while troubleshooting complex technical issues, ensuring product quality and regulatory compliance that directly affects patient safety
Lead quality assurance initiatives through deviation management, change control, and CAPA implementation, maintaining industry-leading GMP standards
Serve as technical expert in capital investment projects worth millions of dollars, driving facility expansion and modernization initiatives that shape company growth
Design and optimize DeltaV/MES automation recipes, enhancing manufacturing efficiency and reducing operational costs
Coordinate cross-functional engineering initiatives and facility change-over activities, ensuring seamless production transitions and minimizing downtime
Drive innovation projects that improve manufacturing processes and plant efficiency, contributing to competitive advantage and cost optimization
Develop manufacturing expertise across the organization through comprehensive operator training programs, building institutional knowledge and capability
Represent the organization during high-stakes customer audits and visits, maintaining client relationships worth millions in revenue

Requirements

Education

Bachelor / Master Degree / PhD or equivalent experience

Experience

Significant work experience in Downstream Processing (DSP) Manufacturing

Required Skills

Good biotechnology expertise and/or knowledge in biotechnical engineering Fluent in English (German is considered a plus) Good GMP understanding Good communication skills and interaction with all kinds of interfaces within the organization Strong team orientation Organized, focused, and open-minded when approaching work tasks Motivated and driven to succeed
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The biologics manufacturing sector is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by the expansion of cell and gene therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and personalized medicine approaches. Downstream processing has become a critical bottleneck in biomanufacturing, creating high demand for specialized DSP engineers who can optimize purification processes and scale operations efficiently. Regulatory requirements in biotechnology manufacturing continue to intensify, with agencies like FDA and EMA implementing more stringent cGMP standards and data integrity requirements. This trend is driving demand for engineers with deep regulatory knowledge and experience in validation and compliance systems. Automation and digitalization are transforming bioprocessing operations, with increased adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, advanced process control systems, and data analytics platforms. Engineers with expertise in DeltaV, MES systems, and process automation are becoming increasingly valuable in the market.

Role Significance

Typically leads or works within teams of 8-15 manufacturing technicians and operators, while collaborating with cross-functional teams of 20-30 professionals including quality assurance, engineering, and regulatory affairs specialists
This is a senior-level position requiring substantial expertise in downstream bioprocessing, with responsibilities spanning technical leadership, regulatory compliance, capital project management, and cross-functional coordination. The role involves high-impact decision-making that directly affects production outcomes and business results.

Key Projects

Large-scale capital investment projects for new manufacturing suite construction and commissioning, typically valued at $50-200 million Process optimization initiatives for commercial biologics production, affecting products with annual revenues of $100+ million Technology transfer projects for new product launches, involving complex downstream purification processes Regulatory compliance and validation projects supporting FDA and EMA submissions for commercial products

Success Factors

Deep technical expertise in downstream bioprocessing technologies including chromatography, filtration, and purification systems, combined with practical manufacturing experience to troubleshoot complex process issues and optimize production efficiency. Strong regulatory and compliance acumen with thorough understanding of cGMP principles, validation methodologies, and quality systems, enabling successful navigation of increasingly complex regulatory environments. Exceptional project management and cross-functional leadership capabilities to coordinate capital investments, technology transfers, and process improvements across diverse stakeholder groups including operations, quality, engineering, and regulatory teams. Advanced problem-solving and analytical thinking skills to address complex manufacturing challenges, interpret process data, and implement innovative solutions that improve product quality and operational efficiency.

Market Demand

Very high demand driven by the global expansion of biologics manufacturing, particularly in downstream processing where skilled engineers are critically needed to address industry bottlenecks

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Downstream processing expertise is absolutely essential as this represents the core technical competency for the role, encompassing knowledge of chromatography, filtration, purification, and separation technologies that are fundamental to biologics manufacturing success. GMP compliance knowledge is critical given the highly regulated nature of pharmaceutical manufacturing, where deviation from established procedures can result in product recalls, regulatory sanctions, and significant financial losses. Process automation and control system expertise, particularly with DeltaV and MES platforms, is increasingly critical as the industry moves toward more sophisticated automated manufacturing operations that require specialized technical skills.

Beneficial Skills

German language skills would provide significant advantage given the Swiss location and potential for interaction with local teams, suppliers, and regulatory authorities, enhancing career advancement opportunities within the regional organization. Project management certification or formal training would be valuable given the capital project responsibilities and cross-functional coordination requirements inherent in this senior-level position. Advanced statistical analysis and data science capabilities are becoming increasingly valuable as the industry adopts more data-driven approaches to process optimization and quality control in biologics manufacturing.

Unique Aspects

This role offers direct involvement in microbial fermentation processes, which is becoming increasingly important as the industry expands beyond traditional mammalian cell culture to include novel production platforms for complex biologics and biosimilars.
The position combines hands-on technical work with strategic capital project involvement, providing exposure to both operational excellence and business development aspects of biomanufacturing.
Working at Lonza's Visp facility provides access to one of Europe's most advanced biologics manufacturing complexes, with state-of-the-art equipment and processes that represent the cutting edge of industry technology.
The role offers significant international exposure through Lonza's global network, with opportunities to work on projects spanning multiple continents and diverse regulatory environments.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing individuals, with opportunities for advancement accelerated by successful capital project delivery and process improvement achievements

Potential Next Roles

Senior Principal Bioprocess Engineer or Technical Director roles leading larger technical teams and strategic initiatives Manufacturing Operations Manager positions overseeing entire production facilities Business Development or Commercial roles leveraging technical expertise in client-facing positions Regulatory Affairs or Quality leadership positions focusing on compliance and product registration

Company Overview

Lonza

Lonza is a globally recognized Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and specialty chemicals company with a strong presence in biologics manufacturing, cell and gene therapy production, and pharmaceutical services. The company operates one of the world's largest networks of manufacturing facilities and has established itself as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.

Lonza holds a leading position in the global CDMO market with annual revenues exceeding $6 billion and maintains strong competitive advantages through its integrated service offerings, global manufacturing network, and technical expertise in complex biologics production.
The Visp, Switzerland facility represents one of Lonza's key European manufacturing hubs, serving as a center of excellence for biologics production and supporting the company's growing presence in the European pharmaceutical market, particularly in high-value biologics and specialty pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Lonza emphasizes scientific innovation, regulatory excellence, and professional development with a culture that values technical expertise, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous improvement. The company's global presence provides exposure to diverse projects and international career opportunities.
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