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Subject Matter Expert - Protein Based Therapy

Roles & Responsibilities

  • Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related life sciences field; Master’s degree or PhD preferred
  • Extensive hands-on experience with GMP-regulated products and environments
  • Proven experience in mammalian cell culture process development (upstream and/or downstream) and protein-based therapeutics (development, scale-up, and commercialization)
  • Strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable commercial language and deliver advanced technical training

Requirements:

  • Serve as the technical authority for Lonza’s bioprocessing portfolio, collaborating with Sales, BD, and cross-functional teams to enable customer success and commercial growth
  • Lead the technical strategy for complex sales opportunities with Account Managers and BD Managers to improve win rates and mitigate risk
  • Act as a trusted technical advisor in customer engagements (workshops, troubleshooting, product demonstrations, and proof-of-concept projects) and guide scalable, compliant solutions
  • Deliver advanced technical and application training to internal sales teams, distributors, and key customers while shaping technical messaging for new product launches

Job description

 

Subject Matter Expert - Protein Based Therapy

Location: This is a fully remote position. The ideal candidate is based in a major life sciences hub such as San Francisco or the Boston area. The role requires 40–50% travel.

What you will get:

The full-time base annual salary for this position is expected to range between $144,000 to $244,000. In addition, below you will find a comprehensive summary of the benefits package we offer:

  • Performance-related bonus.

  • Medical, dental and vision insurance.

  • 401(k) matching plan.

  • Life insurance, as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance.

  • Employee assistance programs.

  • Paid time off (PTO).

Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.

What you will do:

The Subject Matter Expert (SME) – Protein Based Therapy serves as the technical authority for Lonza’s bioprocessing portfolio, playing a critical role in enabling customer success and driving commercial growth. This role partners closely with Business Development, Account Management, and cross-functional teams to deliver deep scientific, product, and process expertise across the sales cycle. Acting as a trusted advisor to both customers and internal stakeholders, the SME helps translate complex technical challenges into scalable, compliant solutions that accelerate the development and commercialization of protein-based therapies.

  • Lead the technical strategy for complex sales opportunities in partnership with Account Managers and Business Development Managers to improve win rates and mitigate technical and regulatory risk.

  • Serve as the technical authority in customer engagements, including workshops, troubleshooting sessions, product demonstrations, and proof-of-concept projects.

  • Prioritize technical support activities based on revenue potential, strategic importance, and risk.

  • Deliver advanced technical and application training to internal sales teams, distributors, and key customers.

  • Coach and mentor commercial teams on technical positioning, application differentiation, and objection handling.

  • Investigate and resolve escalated technical and product performance issues using root-cause-driven, sustainable solutions.

  • Act as a trusted technical partner to strategic customers to support product adoption, expansion, and long-term success.

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Product Management, R&D, Quality Assurance, Service, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure solutions are technically sound, compliant, and scalable.

  • Translate customer feedback, application needs, and competitive intelligence into structured insights for Product Management, R&D, and Marketing.

  • Support new product launches by shaping technical messaging, application positioning, and sales enablement materials.

  • Review and contribute to technical documentation, white papers, application notes, and competitive analyses.

  • Build and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders and regulatory authorities.

  • Present technical data, application concepts, and market insights at industry conferences, customer meetings, and internal forums.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

What we are looking for:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree or PhD preferred in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related life sciences discipline.

  • Extensive hands-on experience working with GMP-regulated products and environments.

  • Strong background in protein-based therapeutics, including development, scale-up, and commercialization.

  • Demonstrated experience in mammalian cell culture process development, including upstream and/or downstream processing.

  • Solid understanding of bioprocess development workflows, from early development through clinical and commercial manufacturing.

  • Proven experience supporting or leading technology transfer activities, including transfer of processes from development to manufacturing or between sites and external partners.

  • Ability to assess process robustness, scalability, and risk across different stages of the product lifecycle.

  • Expert technical mastery of bioprocessing tools, technologies, and applications relevant to protein expression, purification, and formulation.

  • Proven ability to translate complex technical and process-development concepts into clear, actionable commercial language.

  • Exceptional presentation and advanced technical training delivery skills for both technical and commercial audiences.

  • Ability to travel nationally and regionally up to 40–50% of the time to support sales activities, customer engagements, and training.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.

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