Are you a fan of performance and quality? The profession of bioproduction engineer extends its arms to you! Responsible for designing production plans and delivering compliant products, the bioproduction engineer works as a team, in accordance with manufacturing procedures and specifications.
The job of a bioproduction engineer, also called a bioprocess engineer, consists of developing new products, controlling production and improving already existing processes, whether from an economic, technical, environmental or energy point of view. Whether working in the field of chemistry, the environment or even energy, the bioproduction engineer designs, implements, monitors and optimizes manufacturing processes. In order to optimize the bioprocesses, the bioproduction engineer carries out feasibility studies to analyze and identify the best bioprocesses to put in place. It seeks to optimize costs while respecting environmental and safety standards in force.
For this, the bioproduction engineer will identify areas for improvement and define the needs necessary to implement them and allow their operation. He must also anticipate any problems and anomalies by putting in place safety and prevention measures, by checking the correct functioning of the machines and by ensuring the good supply of raw materials. He ensures the organization of tasks, compliance with different standards and deadlines.
How to become a bioproduction engineer?
To become a bioproduction engineer, a minimum bac + 5 level is required:
- specialized engineering school: Sup’Biotech Paris, Bio-production & Quality course, Research & Development course ;
- engineering school: diploma in production management, process and bio-process engineering, biology, chemistry, biological engineering, agrosciences …
- master 2 process sciences of agro-resources, master 2 in biotechnology, master’s degree in chemistry with specialization in process engineering …
The main skills and qualities to have
The profession of bioproduction engineer requires different skills and attitudes:
- master the advanced technologies ;
- have very extensive skills in process and bioprocess engineering;
- knowing how to deal with unforeseen events;
- master project management;
- enjoy teamwork;
- have managerial skills;
- know the standards and regulations in force;
- have a good relationship;
- be a good communicator;
- be fluent in English.
Work conditions
The bioproduction engineer works in a team and in project mode. He works within his company with traditional office hours. He must ensure a double hat of researcher and entrepreneur.
The salary of a bioproduction engineer
The salary of a starting engineer is between 1,800 and 2,500 euros gross per month. This will essentially depend on its sector and place of activity. With experience, his remuneration may be between 3,000 and 5,000 euros gross monthly, always depending on his position and his company.
The development prospects of a bioproduction engineer
A bioproduction engineer can progress to positions of production manager, workshop manager, industrialization manager or even design office manager.
Companies that employ bioproduction engineers
- large companies ;
- engineering companies;
- SMEs or start-ups;
- research organizations (CEA, CNRS …).
3 questions to Axelle Redon, production method engineer in manufacturing at Nestlé
Why is your training at Sup’Biotech useful to you on a daily basis in your work?
Sup’biotech is a school that trains its students through scenarios. The tools (5S, problem solving method, data analysis …) that we use daily as a bioproduction engineer are taught by teachers who are above all professionals in their field and who encourage us to share their vision. I learned so much in my project end of study that in my internship to use these tools, even now I still rely on what I learned in class and use it in my work.
What types of projects can a bioproduction engineer work on and in which sectors of activity?
I am working on several projects at the same time. The projects are defined according to the priorities of the factory which are: quality, safety and costs. Currently, I am working on the segregation of pedestrian / ride-on truck flows, the increase in customer complaints due to foreign bodies, the improvement of the workshop cleaning process …
These projects are found in many sectors related to biotechnology, whether it is agrifood, the environment, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. In this business, the common point of these sectors is the ability to know your production line and be able to adapt the flow of materials or personnel to the vagaries of daily problems.
Biotechnologies are developing more and more, in all sectors of activity. What advice would you give to students about to register for the same course as you?
You have to be motivated and have the desire to continuously train because we work in a sector of activity which evolves very quickly. You should not put up barriers and take advantage of Sup’Biotech internship periods to open up to all areas. In 5 years, we change and we do not necessarily have the same desires at the beginning and at the end.
Curiosity is a sought-after quality in our curriculum. Last point, you have to take advantage of the five years that you are going to live because Sup’Biotech is above all a big family with a lot of mutual help.
Article written in partnership with Ionis Group.
My job explained to my mother
By Axelle Redon, production method engineer in manufacturing at Nestlé:
A bioproduction engineer must verify that the product developed by R&D leaves the factory as it was imagined. In my work, this results in the analysis of performance indices, the provision of manufacturing instructions, team management or the improvement of production processes.
I guarantee compliance with good manufacturing practices. For example, if you want to eat good puree as you are used to having at home, it must be of the right color, that you do not find any foreign bodies in it, that the texture be as you used to eat. So for that, I have to do procedures, operating mode to explain to the operators how to make so that the quality of the mash is as you want it to be. To make sure that the operators have understood correctly, I train them, supervise them and I do audits so that they become autonomous.
I also manage projects from A to Z. This means that I have to set up a team, guide it and support it on the method it should apply to solve a problem, for example.
I also have to make sure the results of my workshop are good. To help monitor these, I set up performance indicators to ensure that we achieve the objectives that the production manager sets for us.
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