Fermentation Engineer II

About The Role

Our client, a growing biotech manufacturer, is looking for a Fermentation Engineer II to join their process development team. You’ll design, optimize, and scale microbial fermentation processes, bridging R&D and manufacturing from lab through pilot and commercial scale.

What You’ll Do

• Design and optimize fermentation processes (batch, fed-batch, continuous) for microbial or cell culture systems
• Improve yield, productivity, titer, and process robustness through media optimization, feeding strategies, and metabolic performance analysis
• Apply statistical tools (DOE, multivariate analysis) to speed up process improvement
• Lead scale-up from bench to pilot and commercial manufacturing
• Identify and mitigate scale-dependent risks (mixing, oxygen transfer, heat removal, shear sensitivity)
• Support tech transfer to manufacturing sites or CMOs, and build scale-down models to troubleshoot commercial deviations
• Define CPPs and CQAs, support process characterization studies, and develop control strategies
• Analyze process data and build predictive models for fermentation performance and scale-up
• Implement digital tools (PAT, soft sensors, automation strategies) to improve process control
• Lead cross-functional project teams across strain engineering, downstream processing, and manufacturing
• Mentor junior engineers and scientists
• Ensure compliance with EHS, GMP, and regulatory guidelines

Required

• PhD with 5+ years in Industrial Fermentation Sciences, Engineering, or a related field
• Expertise in bench and pilot-scale fermentation process development
• Expertise in microbial physiology
• Experience with statistical tools for media design

Preferred

• Experience scaling fermentation processes from lab to pilot plant and/or production scale
• Analytical instrumentation experience (GC, LC)
• Fermentation modeling experience

Salary

$110k to $150k depending on experience