Research Engineer, ATMF
About the role
Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Scientific Eng., Level B
Job Title
Research Engineer, ATMF
Department
Staff Human Resources | Faculty Affairs | Faculty of Medicine
Compensation Range
$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
September 2, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
September 30, 2026
This is a 1-year term position, with a possibility of extension.
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
The Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF) is a new CFI-funded project and part of Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (
CIEBH
), a UBC-led national research hub that aims to align the critical mass of immune-engineering with biomanufacturing and public health strengths concentrated in BC. This multi-year, multi-phase initiative aims to build a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) biomanufacturing core facility to produce advanced therapeutics—such as cells, mRNA vaccines, and ancillary plasmid DNA—essential for early-phase clinical trials, addressing current health challenges, and strengthening Canada’s pandemic preparedness
The Research Engineer – Process Development position aims to develop and facilitate the research being conducted at the ATMF. Specifically, the engineer in this position will conduct research and lead research projects to advance biomanufacturing technologies for various therapeutic products, including plasmids, mRNA/LNP formulations, CAR-T cells, regulatory T cells (T-regs), and viral vectors. This role involves designing and optimizing upstream and downstream processes, performing data analysis, developing robust manufacturing protocols, maintaining laboratory equipment, supporting technology transfer to GMP production environments, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. In some instances, the Engineer will also supervise junior staff who are conducting research. The Research Engineer will work with the ATMF Project Lead and staff to prepare reports and peer-reviewed publications, present research results at scientific conferences, to funding organizations, and other external stakeholders.
The position is based in a laboratory at the ATMF facility and pilot-scale laboratories. Travel will be required between multiple laboratory sites, including BCCHR, BC Cancer, and UBC Point Grey Campus.
Organizational Status
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.
Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone
Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.
The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, 3 schools, and 25 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.
The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.
The Research Engineer will report to the ATMF Project Lead – Dr. Megan Levings.
Works in the Process Development lab with other research and technical staff.
Supervises technical staff, overseeing the team conducting specific experiments in bioprocessing.
Consults with ATMF staff and other UBC departments, universities, research institutes, vendors, and industry partners in the bioprocess design and selection.
Work Performed
- Design experimental and analytical investigations related to bioprocess engineering of advanced therapeutic products and/or ancillary materials, including plasmids, mRNA-LNP, cell therapy products (T-regs/CAR-T), and viral vectors.
- Execute and optimize upstream (cell culture, transfection, fermentation) and downstream (purification, filtration, formulation) processes using specialized bioprocessing equipment.
- Conduct experiments, collate, and analyze data in a timely manner.
- Develop complex mathematical models for performing analytical assessments, including yield, purity, potency, and stability testing.
- Assess and implement bioprocess design alternatives.
- Complete complex design and scale-up calculations related to experimental work.
- Develop protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bioprocess workflows.
- Evaluate and integrate new bioprocessing technologies and equipment to enhance efficiency and product quality.
- Work with equipment vendors and assist with installation, calibration, modification, maintenance and repair of bioprocessing equipment
- Maintain detailed documentation following Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and contribute to regulatory submissions.
- Coordinate technology transfer to ATMF’s GMP laboratories, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
- Hire, train, and mentor junior staff and students in process development methodologies.
- Provide technical assistance and work closely with scientists, operations, engineers, and GMP manufacturing personnel to drive bioprocess innovations.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Research Engineer may have access to confidential data. The quality of work performed will determine the success of ATMF projects and funding. Exercising poor judgment and failing to consult appropriately with research team members and supervisors can adversely affect the viability and validity of ATMF’s projects or programs and may compromise UBC and the Department’s ability to secure grant-based funding for future ATMF projects.
Supervision Received
The ATMF Project Lead will provide overall supervision of this role. However, the Research Engineer may take direction and feedback from senior members of the ATMF. It is important that the Research Engineer be capable of working independently within project objectives.
Supervision Given
The Research Engineer will participate in the hiring, training, and supervision of junior process development staff and students and may provide guidance and direction to staff in carrying out experiments, protocol development, data analysis, or optimizing equipment.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
-
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
-
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field.
- Expertise and hands-on experience with bioprocessing techniques and equipment, including bioreactors, depth filtration, chromatography and tangential flow filtration systems, and formulation.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with process design, characterization, and optimization.
- Experience in scaling up manufacturing processes from research to clinical-grade production.
- Knowledge of automation, process control, and high-throughput screening techniques.
- Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate research and technical reports and protocols.
- Experience in working with LIMS, electronic lab notebooks, and data management systems.
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as Health Canada, FDA, and EMA guidelines for cell and gene therapies.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends, evenings, and early mornings, as required.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment.
Research Engineer, ATMF
About the role
Staff - Non Union
Job Category
M&P - AAPS
Job Profile
AAPS Salaried - Scientific Eng., Level B
Job Title
Research Engineer, ATMF
Department
Staff Human Resources | Faculty Affairs | Faculty of Medicine
Compensation Range
$6,747.50 - $9,701.42 CAD Monthly
The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.
Posting End Date
September 2, 2025
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
September 30, 2026
This is a 1-year term position, with a possibility of extension.
At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
The Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility (ATMF) is a new CFI-funded project and part of Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (
CIEBH
), a UBC-led national research hub that aims to align the critical mass of immune-engineering with biomanufacturing and public health strengths concentrated in BC. This multi-year, multi-phase initiative aims to build a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) biomanufacturing core facility to produce advanced therapeutics—such as cells, mRNA vaccines, and ancillary plasmid DNA—essential for early-phase clinical trials, addressing current health challenges, and strengthening Canada’s pandemic preparedness
The Research Engineer – Process Development position aims to develop and facilitate the research being conducted at the ATMF. Specifically, the engineer in this position will conduct research and lead research projects to advance biomanufacturing technologies for various therapeutic products, including plasmids, mRNA/LNP formulations, CAR-T cells, regulatory T cells (T-regs), and viral vectors. This role involves designing and optimizing upstream and downstream processes, performing data analysis, developing robust manufacturing protocols, maintaining laboratory equipment, supporting technology transfer to GMP production environments, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. In some instances, the Engineer will also supervise junior staff who are conducting research. The Research Engineer will work with the ATMF Project Lead and staff to prepare reports and peer-reviewed publications, present research results at scientific conferences, to funding organizations, and other external stakeholders.
The position is based in a laboratory at the ATMF facility and pilot-scale laboratories. Travel will be required between multiple laboratory sites, including BCCHR, BC Cancer, and UBC Point Grey Campus.
Organizational Status
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.
Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone
Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.
The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, 3 schools, and 25 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.
The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.
The Research Engineer will report to the ATMF Project Lead – Dr. Megan Levings.
Works in the Process Development lab with other research and technical staff.
Supervises technical staff, overseeing the team conducting specific experiments in bioprocessing.
Consults with ATMF staff and other UBC departments, universities, research institutes, vendors, and industry partners in the bioprocess design and selection.
Work Performed
- Design experimental and analytical investigations related to bioprocess engineering of advanced therapeutic products and/or ancillary materials, including plasmids, mRNA-LNP, cell therapy products (T-regs/CAR-T), and viral vectors.
- Execute and optimize upstream (cell culture, transfection, fermentation) and downstream (purification, filtration, formulation) processes using specialized bioprocessing equipment.
- Conduct experiments, collate, and analyze data in a timely manner.
- Develop complex mathematical models for performing analytical assessments, including yield, purity, potency, and stability testing.
- Assess and implement bioprocess design alternatives.
- Complete complex design and scale-up calculations related to experimental work.
- Develop protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bioprocess workflows.
- Evaluate and integrate new bioprocessing technologies and equipment to enhance efficiency and product quality.
- Work with equipment vendors and assist with installation, calibration, modification, maintenance and repair of bioprocessing equipment
- Maintain detailed documentation following Good Documentation Practices (GDP) and contribute to regulatory submissions.
- Coordinate technology transfer to ATMF’s GMP laboratories, ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
- Hire, train, and mentor junior staff and students in process development methodologies.
- Provide technical assistance and work closely with scientists, operations, engineers, and GMP manufacturing personnel to drive bioprocess innovations.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Research Engineer may have access to confidential data. The quality of work performed will determine the success of ATMF projects and funding. Exercising poor judgment and failing to consult appropriately with research team members and supervisors can adversely affect the viability and validity of ATMF’s projects or programs and may compromise UBC and the Department’s ability to secure grant-based funding for future ATMF projects.
Supervision Received
The ATMF Project Lead will provide overall supervision of this role. However, the Research Engineer may take direction and feedback from senior members of the ATMF. It is important that the Research Engineer be capable of working independently within project objectives.
Supervision Given
The Research Engineer will participate in the hiring, training, and supervision of junior process development staff and students and may provide guidance and direction to staff in carrying out experiments, protocol development, data analysis, or optimizing equipment.
Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in Engineering or Applied Science. Minimum of three years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
-
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
-
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Bioprocess/Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field.
- Expertise and hands-on experience with bioprocessing techniques and equipment, including bioreactors, depth filtration, chromatography and tangential flow filtration systems, and formulation.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with process design, characterization, and optimization.
- Experience in scaling up manufacturing processes from research to clinical-grade production.
- Knowledge of automation, process control, and high-throughput screening techniques.
- Ability to prepare clear, concise, and accurate research and technical reports and protocols.
- Experience in working with LIMS, electronic lab notebooks, and data management systems.
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as Health Canada, FDA, and EMA guidelines for cell and gene therapies.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekends, evenings, and early mornings, as required.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative research environment.