Biochemical Development Engineer |
Career OverviewThe responsibilities of a biochemical development engineer include moving the manufacturing or development of the product from the laboratory to the manufacturing facitily. The biochemical development engineer is the person that determines how to increase both the size and volume of the production from the test amounts in the lab to the full-scale production lines in the manufacturing sector.
The biochemical development engineer may also work to help new plants and manufacturing facilities develop both time and cost effective production lines and development methods. The biochemical development engineer must be very mechanically and systems orientated and should have experience in working on and with the various pieces of equipment used on the lines.
He or she may also be required to help develop validation processes using automated methods, ensure that new technology can and will work within a production design, as well as plan for future changes in the production line to incorporate new ideas and technology.
Most of the work of a biochemical development engineer occurs both in the office at the computer and out in the plant or production facility. They are both a designer and a hands-on participant in the operation and development of production lines and manufacturing industries.
A biochemical development engineer has to have an excellent understanding of technology and how it can apply to current and future developments within a given sector of the biotechnology industry.
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Career RequirementsA biochemical development engineer position will require a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in pharmaceutical, biological or chemical engineering, as well as experience working in a biotechnology production plant or facility.
Many companies, especially pharmaceutical companies, prefer to hire biochemical development engineers that have at least two years experience working in some aspect of production in the pharmaceutical sector or another industry production area.
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Job OutlookThe job opportunities for people seeking employment in the biotech industry continue to exceed those opportunities in other areas of employment. This is largely due to the increase in both government funded and privately funded research in the biotech fields.
This increase in research and development is expected to continue at least until 2014 and beyond. Those interested in biochemical development engineer jobs can anticipate that there will be positions available in the employment sector both for senior biochemical development engineers and those just entering the position.
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Career TrackBiochemical development engineers have many opportunities to move into production management as well as facilities management in the private and government research facilities. With additional training and advanced levels of education and experience there is also the option to begin consulting or even marketing specific technologies or innovations in production of biotech materials.
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CompensationA biochemical development engineer with a Bachelors level degree and more than two years in the biotech production or pharmaceutical production areas can expect to earn between $58,000 and $71,000 per year.
Those with more experience and some supervisory roles or management responsibilities can earn between $65,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on exact responsibilities. Often biochemical development engineers are granted bonuses of up to six percent of their salary per year based on production totals and efficiency of production.
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