Overview
Process Development Technician- Lyo Jobs in Oakville, Canada at Vital Bio
Title: Process Development Technician- Lyo
Company: Vital Bio
Location: Oakville, Canada
Category:
Description
About you:
We are looking for a focused, technically skilled, and detail-oriented Process Development Technician to join our team in producing lyophilized beads (lyospheres). This role is a crucial link between liquid formulation and the integration of solid-phase reagents. Key responsibilities include the precise dispensing of reagent “droplets” into cryogen, followed by sieving and sorting to guarantee consistent bead geometry and activity. If you thrive where fluid dynamics, thermal physics, and chemistry intersect, and enjoy a fast-paced biotech setting, this opportunity is for you.
What You’ll Do:
Automated Dispensing & Production Monitoring
Process Monitoring & Quality Assurance:
- Process Setup: Execute the priming of high-precision micro-dispensing pumps to guarantee consistent and accurate droplet volume according to established protocols.
- Live Operation: Continuously monitor the dispensing into cryogen (e.g., liquid nitrogen). Make immediate, real-time parameter adjustments to mitigate defects like “satelliting” and maintain desired bead sphericity.
- In-Process Checks: Conduct regular mass verification and visual inspections of the frozen droplets during the production run to confirm adherence to spherical and quality specifications.
Sieving, Sorting & Aliquoting
Lyophilized Bead Processing and Quality Control
- Precision Sieving: Execute precise, multi-stage sieving protocols to sort lyophilized (lyo) beads. This includes separating the desired “target size” beads from both fines and oversized aggregates based on diameter.
- Environmental Management: Maintain strict control over the sieving environment (managing humidity and static) to ensure the beads remain free-flowing and the material integrity is maintained.
- Accurate Aliquoting: Strictly following established protocols, transfer the sorted lyo beads into primary packaging or storage vials to complete the final aliquoting process.
Documentation: Maintain and complete Batch Production Records (BPRs) in a timely manner.
What You’ll Need:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a closely related technical discipline, or equivalent practical laboratory experience.
- Industry Experience: Demonstrated experience in a regulated environment (Biotech, Pharma, or Medical Device) with a strong focus on reagent formulation, large-scale material processing, and/or lyophilization.
- Operational Standards: Proficient in working within cGMP/ISO 13485 quality systems, with exceptional attention to detail when executing complex, multi-step protocols for sensitive biological reagents.
- Precision & Detail: Exceptional manual dexterity and a keen “eye for detail” are essential for identifying the microscopic variations in bead quality.
- Environmental Handling: Experience operating in low-humidity settings (Dry Rooms) and skilled in handling materials sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD).
- Data Proficiency: Strong analytical skills, including proficiency with MS Excel for comprehensive data analysis, specifically tracking bead diameter distributions (histograms) and yield percentages.
- Growth Mindset & Scientific Curiosity: Move beyond simply following procedures and actively seek to understand the scientific and engineering principles (the why) that govern the lyophilization cycle.
Why Join Us?
- Work at the core of how our assays come to life—translating liquid formulations into robust, lyophilized reagents that power automated diagnostics.
- You’ll own tangible, measurable processes where your precision directly shows up in bead quality, cartridge performance, and ultimately patient-impacting results.
- You’ll collaborate closely with scientists, engineers, and manufacturing teams in a fast-paced environment that values clear documentation, thoughtful experimentation, and continuous improvement.
- As we scale, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your technical expertise, shape best practices for lyosphere production, and help build a world-class reagent manufacturing capability from the ground up.
Compensation will be determined based on the individual’s demonstrated experience, education, training, relevant certifications…