About Us

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job

We are seeking a high-agency bench scientist to architect our next frontier. As a Scientist I, you will be at the heart of our laboratory operations, thriving on the "blank page" stage of research. This role is built for a visionary "finisher"—someone who has the grit to drive deep fundamental science into scalable, revenue-generating commercial products through hands-on experimentation. 

Job Description

As a Scientist I in the Discovery group, you will take full ownership of laboratory-based research programs, transforming ambitious hypotheses into validated technologies and high-value cellular derivatives. You will innovate "out-of-the-box" to solve non-traditional biological hurdles using sophisticated genome engineering/cell biology/cell culture media strategies. Your work will bridge the digital-physical divide by implementing digital pipelines for automated data capture, ensuring discovery is efficient and data-rich.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Drive Bench-Scale Discovery: Transform ambitious hypotheses into validated technologies and high-value cellular derivatives.
• Hands-on Innovation: Perform cell line development and tissue engineering using cutting edge technologies.
• Multi-Omics Characterization: Integrate metabolomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics to characterize cell states.
• AI Integration: Create and utilize AI-augmented workflows to predict biological outcomes and accelerate the DBTL cycle.
• Pipeline Automation: Implement digital pipelines for automated data capture to ensure discovery is data-rich.
• Technical Mentorship: Act as a technical resource and subject matter expert for the R&D group with opportunities to mentor junior staff.

Who You'll Work With

In this role, you will be a key pillar of our Discovery team. While you will spend much of your time developing cell-based technologies and running experiments, you will serve as a vital technical resource for the broader R&D group. You will mentor junior scientific staff and collaborate closely with digital and computational teams to integrate AI and automation into our discovery pipeline.

About You

• Academic Pedigree: PhD in Molecular/Cell Biology or a related field, supported by a strong record of peer-reviewed publications or patents.
• Hands-on "Finisher": You are a dedicated bench scientist with a proven track record of navigating the ambiguity of early-stage discovery and driving projects from concept to completion.
• Technical Mastery: Expert in advanced molecular biology, cellular assays, genome engineering (CRISPR/Cas9), and mammalian cell biology.
• Systems Biology & Omics: Hands-on experience generating and interpreting large-scale datasets, experience on metabolomics and transcriptomics preferred.
• Computational Fluency: Proficient in using Python, R, or AI-driven tools to automate data pipelines and extract patterns from complex biological noise.
• Mindset: Driven by scientific accuracy over ego; you are a self-starter who prefers creating new protocols over following existing ones.

Bonus Points:

• Experience with secretome analysis or specialized cellular products.
• Background in tissue engineering or specialized serum-free media development.
• Prior experience in a high-growth biotech startup environment.

Compensation Range: $100,000 - 125,000

• Pay may vary depending on factors including location, job-related knowledge, and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits!

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our goal is to create an inclusive culture where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work.

About us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells. These products are not vegan or vegetarian-they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love. 

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood. 

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About this job:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Research Associate to support bioprocess development for cell culture process characterization and optimization. This role will focus on executing experiments in bench-scale bioreactors and supporting the development and implementation of automation for lab workflows, as well as contributing to downstream process development, including cell separation and concentration. This is a hands-on role requiring independent experimental execution, troubleshooting, and data analysis. The successful candidate will interpret results, recommend next steps, and clearly communicate findings to cross-functional teams. The Senior Research Associate will also lead discrete technical projects or workstreams within PD/MSAT, contributing to process scale-up and manufacturing-relevant outcomes in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead discrete technical projects or workstreams within PD/MSAT, including planning experiments, coordinating with stakeholders, and driving timely execution.
• Execute suspension cell culture experiments in bench-scale bioreactors to support upstream process development and data generation.
• Perform routine cell culture assays and support process optimization and robustness studies.
• Design and execute experiments, applying statistical analysis and data visualization tools to interpret results.
• Analyze data and generate clear, high-quality technical documentation and reports.
• Present experimental findings and recommendations in team and cross-functional meetings.
• Partner with Cell Line, Media Development, PD/MSAT, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to support cross-functional data generation and process understanding.

About you:

• B.S. in a relevant scientific or technical discipline with 4+ years, or M.S. with 2+ years of industry experience.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture processes is required; experience with suspension cell culture in controlled bioreactor systems is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in experimental design, statistical analysis (e.g., JMP), and data visualization or reporting tools (e.g., Tableau or equivalent).
• Strong background in experimental data analysis, interpretation, and technical documentation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present and discuss experimental results clearly and effectively.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and cross-functional environment.

Who you’ll work with:

• This role sits within the Process Development (PD) team and collaborates closely with Cell Line Development, Media Development, MSAT, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Food R&D to understand how process parameters impact both process performance and final product quality.

Compensation Range: $85,000 - $100,000*

*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits!  

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

About Us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About this job:

The Process Engineer I will report to the Associate Director of Process Development and Commercialization. The Engineer will be accountable for brainstorming, planning and conducting benchtop experiments, leading to pilot plant tests followed by scale-up tests. This role will support a variety of R&D functions to develop prototypes, help conduct sensory tests, and commercialize equipment and products.  

Responsibilities include:

• Research & development of food processes for novel food technologies  
• Plan and execute experiments to optimize product and process, utilizing statistical experiment design when needed.
• Source third party solutions as per equipment and ingredients, and design proof of concept plans. 
• Able to travel and execute testing at third parties. 
• Lead process development projects, working with Food development/sensory teams, aligning with commercial team requirements and briefs.   
• Mentor junior team members to learn engineering technical skills

About you:

• MS or B.S. in Engineering with specialization in food science, food process engineering, chemical engineering or other related fields
• Prefer candidate with 2-4 years experiences both as food process or manufacturing engineer &/or product developer
• Preference will be given to candidates with Computer aided design software- i,e AutoCAD 
• High self-accountability; being able to execute on individual commitments independently while also working collaboratively within a team
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• Job requires the ability to lift up to 20 lbs, perform tasks that involve walking up ladders, standing for extended durations, and engaging in physically demanding activities
• Passionate about applying your technical skills to making delicious food products
• Can-do attitude, full of integrity, excited to work under our Big Tent philosophy 

Who you’ll work with:

• This role will be in Food R&D and will partner with other Food R&D teams such as Product Development, and Sensory, 

Compensation Range: $100,000-120,000

*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits!  

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities 

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

About us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job: 

You’ll play a central role in defining and implementing our new visual identity system — ensuring it lives beautifully and consistently across internal and external touchpoints. You’ll bring strong conceptual abilities and meticulous craft, helping to connect brand strategy with creative execution that inspires confidence and drives results.

You’ll collaborate with copywriters, marketers, and leadership to bring campaigns and communications to life — from brand-level storytelling to detailed sales and marketing materials that reflect care, clarity, and craft. You’ll also be open to leveraging AI-driven design tools to streamline workflows, explore new ideas, and scale creative excellence. This role’s primary focus on client Foods, but the Senior Designer will also support our B2B life
sciences division.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Include: 

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

• Lead concepting and execution of creative work across digital, brand, and marketing channels
• Partner with the Brand team to roll out and implement client’s and other division’s new visual identity systems across internal and external applications
• Ensure design consistency and craft excellence in all outputs — including sales, marketing, and presentation materials
• Bring strong conceptual and strategic thinking to campaigns and design storytelling
• Explore AI design tools and workflows to enhance speed, experimentation, and learning
• Translate data and feedback into design improvements and refinements
• Maintain brand guidelines, templates, and scalable systems for efficient collaboration
• Stay ahead of trends in visual design, technology, and culture
• Provide creative feedback and mentorship within the marketing team

About You:

• 10+ years of design experience in brand, marketing, or digital creative roles, especially pioneering new products that are complex, requiring high level concepts for GTM
• Exceptional conceptual and visual storytelling skills
• Strong attention to detail and pride in crafting sales and marketing
• Proven experience implementing or evolving a brand identity system
• Collateral that reflect quality and intent, in the Food industry
• Expertise in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; motion or AI- assisted design experience a plus
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Curiosity about emerging creative technologies and design innovation

Who You’ll Work With:

• This role will frequently interact with all other departments. 

Compensation Range: $185,000 - 210,000

• Pay may vary depending on factors including location, job-related knowledge, and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits! 

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities 

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

About Us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells. These products are not vegan or vegetarian—they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love. 

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood. 

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job: 

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on scientist to join our Bioprocess Development team, supporting process scale-up and technology transfer activities. This role will focus on executing and optimizing upstream and/or downstream processes and supporting the translation of processes from development into pilot and commercial manufacturing. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in bioprocess engineering and a willingness to operate at the interface of PD and Manufacturing, contributing to both experimental development and on-the-floor support. This individual will work closely with cross-functional teams to support tech transfer execution, troubleshoot process performance, and improve process robustness at scale. This is an excellent opportunity for a scientist who enjoys hands-on problem solving, working in a fast-paced environment, and contributing to the scale-up of complex biological processes in the cultivated meat space.

Responsibilities include: 

• Support technology transfer activities by generating data, documenting process understanding, and assisting with implementation at pilot and manufacturing scales. 
• Design, execute, and analyze benchtop and scale-down experiments to support process development, troubleshooting, and scale-up.
• Apply process engineering principles (e.g., mixing, mass/gas transfer, and process control) to support scale-up and resolve performance challenges.
• Apply knowledge of cell separation technologies (e.g., TFF, centrifugation) to support process development, scale-up, and downstream integration. 
• Partner with PD, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to troubleshoot process issues and improve robustness during scale-up and campaign execution.
• Assist in the installation, commissioning, and evaluation of new bioprocess equipment and technologies.
• Analyze and interpret process data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Communicate results and manage timelines to support cross-functional execution and program milestones.

About you:

• PhD in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or related scientific discipline with 2+ years, or MS/BS with 5-7+ years, of relevant industry experience in bioprocess development, MSAT, or manufacturing support.
• Strong foundation in bioprocess engineering principles, with experience in upstream cell culture and/or downstream processing.
• Hands-on experience with bioreactor platforms (SUB and/or stainless steel) and control systems.
• Demonstrated experience with statistically designed experiments (DoE) and data-driven process optimization.
• Working knowledge of scale-up principles and technology transfer to pilot or manufacturing scale.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a detail-oriented and organized approach to problem solving.
• Effective communicator, able to clearly present technical data and insights to cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable working in a team-based, fast-paced environment, including on-the-floor manufacturing support and occasional off-hours coverage.
• Proactive, ownership-driven mindset with enthusiasm for troubleshooting and continuous improvement.

Who you’ll work with:

• You’ll work at the interface of PD and MSAT, partnering with Cell Line and Media teams to support process scale-up.
• You’ll collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering on tech transfer and on-the-floor support, and with Analytical, Data, and Automation teams to drive process understanding and performance.

Compensation Range: $130,000 - $150,000*

*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits! 

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 84-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

About Us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells. These products are not vegan or vegetarian- they are delicious meat, made without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love. 

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job: 

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and experienced scientist to join our Bioprocess Development team. This role will be instrumental in developing, optimizing, and scaling upstream and/or downstream processes for the production of cultivated meat. The ideal candidate brings both strong scientific depth and operational expertise, with a proven ability to translate process understanding into robust, scalable manufacturing solutions. This individual will provide technical leadership across process development and drive successful technology transfer to pilot and commercial scales in close partnership with Manufacturing and Engineering. This is a high-impact opportunity for a scientist who thrives at the interface of R&D and Manufacturing, is passionate about scaling complex biological systems, and is motivated to advance the rapidly evolving field of cellular agriculture.

Responsibilities include: 

• Lead end-to-end technology transfer from PD to manufacturing, including transfer strategy, risk assessment, and readiness deliverables.
• Serve as the primary bridge between PD, MSAT, and Manufacturing, ensuring process intent translates into robust, executable operations at scale.
• Drive standardization and scalability of tech transfer frameworks, tools, and best practices across programs.
• Lead cross-functional teams to execute campaigns and resolve on-the-floor technical challenges.
• Oversee investigation and closure of deviations, CAPAs, and planned events with rigorous root cause analysis.
• Monitor and act on process performance and quality trends (e.g., variability, yield, productivity) to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify and implement process and operational improvements to enhance robustness and improve manufacturability.
• Leverage scale-down models and experimental design to troubleshoot issues and de-risk scale-up.
• Communicate technical strategy, risks, and progress clearly to cross-functional stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Manage project timelines, resources, and team development to ensure successful delivery of tech transfer milestones. 

About you:

• PhD in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or related scientific discipline with 6+ years, or MS/BS with 10-12+ years, of relevant industry experience in bioprocess development, MSAT, or manufacturing support.
• Deep expertise in bioprocess scale-up and technology transfer, including upstream cell culture systems and associated unit operations.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical and/or manufacturing-facing functions, with the ability to influence across PD, MSAT, Manufacturing, and Engineering.
• Proven track record of executing complex, cross-functional programs in GMP or GMP-like environments.
• Strong working knowledge of large-scale bioreactor platforms (e.g., SUB, stainless steel) and control systems (e.g., DeltaV or equivalent).
• Strong systems thinker with the ability to translate process understanding into robust, scalable manufacturing strategies.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of prioritizing in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Effective communicator with the ability to distill complex technical topics for diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
• Comfortable operating in an on-the-floor support model, including off-hours coverage when needed to support manufacturing operations.
• Proactive, ownership-driven mindset with a bias toward problem solving, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

Who you’ll work with:

• You’ll operate at the interface of PD, MSAT, and Manufacturing, partnering closely with Cell Line, Media, and Food R&D to translate process intent into scalable operations.
• You’ll collaborate with Manufacturing and Engineering to execute tech transfer, and with Analytical, Data, Automation, and IT teams to enable robust monitoring, control, and data-driven decision making.
• Success in this role requires strong cross-functional leadership to align teams and deliver reliable, scalable manufacturing outcomes.

Compensation Range: $185,000-210,000*

*Pay may vary depending on factors including job-related knowledge and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits! 

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 84-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.

About us:

Based in Berkeley, CA, UPSIDE Foods grows meat, poultry, and seafood directly from real animal cells without the need to raise and slaughter billions of animals. In doing so, the company aims to address some of the most pressing environmental, animal welfare, and public health challenges, while still giving people the meat they love.

Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company in 2015, UPSIDE Foods (formerly Memphis Meats) has achieved numerous industry-defining milestones, including being the first company to produce multiple species of meat (beef, chicken, and duck) and to sell a cultivated meat product in the United States. The company believes that people shouldn’t have to choose between the foods they love and a thriving planet, and is working to build a better food system with access to delicious, humane, and sustainable meat, poultry, and seafood.

UPSIDE Foods has won various industry awards, including New York Times’ Good Tech Awards, FastCo’s Next Big Thing in Tech and World Changing Ideas Awards, and the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources. UPSIDE Foods has raised more than $600 million in funding from a diverse group of leading U.S. and global investors, including top-tier venture capital firms, sovereign investment funds, strategic food and agriculture partners, and prominent technology and sustainability investors.

About This Job: 

We are seeking a visionary Senior People Operations Manager to serve as the architect and lead user of our future HR technology ecosystem. This is a high-impact role designed for a strategic leader who sits at the intersection of human resources, automation, and operational excellence.

You will lead the design and adoption of innovative, AI-enabled solutions while owning our Rippling platform end-to-end. Your goal is to build and operate world-class processes that enhance the employee experience, drive aggressive automation across the business, and ensure our People function is proactive, scalable, and perfectly aligned with business needs.

To begin with you will split your time between driving existing processes and implementing process improvements. To the extent that you can streamline, automate and safely delegate operational responsibilities to less technically-savvy teammates, you will free up your time to lean more and more into end-to-end workflow and system architecture. The needs of the business will continue to evolve as we scale commercial activities, expand geographically and explore new lines of business.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Include: 

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Strategy & HR Technology Architecture

• Roadmap Development: Partner with leadership to translate business priorities into a clear People Technology roadmap, identifying high-impact use cases that improve productivity and data quality.
• Platform Ownership: Own the Rippling platform end-to-end—including strategy, roadmap, stability, and long-term evolution. Deploy new Rippling features to optimize functionality and user experience while maintaining strict compliance. Oversee Rippling integrations and data flows in partnership with IT and Security. Establish governance processes to ensure system integrity, security, and access control.
• AI & Automation Leadership: Partner closely with IT to jointly design and implement the end-to-end AI and automation architecture, including data inputs, model orchestration, and lifecycle management.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Process Design & Scaling: Architect and scale efficient systems that support the full employee lifecycle while ensuring 100% compliance with labor laws and regulations.
• Process Execution: Drive the flawless execution of core People operations, ensuring that day-to-day administrative tasks are handled with precision and speed.

Job Description:

• Operational Rigor: Maintain high standards of accuracy and reliability in all HR activities, implementing robust audit mechanisms and quality controls to minimize errors and maximize efficiency.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with Accounting, Procurement, Legal, IT, and Security to align processes with payroll, compensation, and benefits policies.
• Change Management: Lead key initiatives such as policy rollouts and system implementations, ensuring strong adoption and minimal disruption across the company.
• Data-Driven Insights: Establish HR data governance and reporting standards. Leverage data and employee feedback to inform strategy and continuously measure success.

About You: 

• 7+ years in People Operations or HR Technology, with a proven track record of managing complex, integrated HRIS environments.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Deep technical knowledge of Rippling (including its workflow engine and app directory) and experience managing platform scaling for high-growth companies.
• Demonstrated ability to implement automation and AI-enabled solutions within an HR context to drive self-service capabilities.
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing implementation vendors, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to act as an executive escalation point for complex platform decisions and cross-functional tradeoffs.
• Strong understanding of global labor laws, data privacy, and HR governance.
• Ability to act as an executive escalation point for complex platform decisions. Strong grasp of data analytics to deliver actionable business insights

Who You’ll Work With:

• This role will frequently interact with all other departments. 

Compensation Range: $150,000 - $170,000* 

• Pay may vary depending on factors including location, job-related knowledge, and skills.

UPSIDE Benefits! 

• Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
• 83-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
• Pet insurance for your furry family members!
• Unlimited PTO
• Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities 

UPSIDE Foods is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Our company-wide mission is to create a product for everyone, so we are deeply committed to having teams and leaders that reflect this mission.