Prozessingenieur:in

MicroHarvest; Spergau; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainable biotech startup is seeking an Operations Leader in Germany to manage production activities, support the establishment of their first industrial plant, and grow into plant leadership. Ideal candidates have a degree in a relevant field and over 3 years of experience in industrial production or plant engineering. Proficiency in German and English is required. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in industrial production or plant engineering.
• Experience in biotech, fermentation, food, or chemical industry.
• Willingness to travel regularly to production sites.

Responsibilities

• Own production at the contract manufacturing partner (CMO).
• Support the design and commissioning of the first industrial production site.
• Grow into plant leadership with increasing responsibilities.

Skills

Process troubleshooting

Operational management

Independent work

Fluent in German

Fluent in English

Education

Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field

Job description

MicroHarvest is a fast‑growing startup in Hamburg that is going to provide better, healthier, and tastier protein produced sustainably using the power of microorganisms. With that MicroHarvest contributes a sustainable solution to the global challenge of feeding the world. Enjoy the collaborative and dynamic environment, working alongside a team with deep experience in biotechnology, business, and product development.

Are you highly ambitious, hands‑on, and excited by roles with real upside rather than narrow boundaries? At MicroHarvest, you will not just support manufacturing — you will help shape it. From managing production with external partners to contributing to the build‑up of our first industrial plant, this role offers unusual ownership, visibility, and growth potential from day one. You will work closely with experienced leaders, gain deep exposure to industrial biotech scale‑up, and have the chance to develop into a key operations leader as the company grows. If you thrive in dynamic environments where structure is still being built and want to make a tangible mark, we would love to meet you.

Tasks

In the near term: own production at our CMO

• Act as MicroHarvest’s primary operational and technical counterpart at our contract manufacturing partner
• Manage production activities at the CMO with a high degree of autonomy
• Travel regularly to site (typically 1–2 times per month for 3–5 days) to support campaigns, resolve issues, align priorities and ensure execution quality
• Monitor process performance, identify bottlenecks, and drive improvements in throughput, yield, quality and robustness
• Troubleshoot deviations and scale‑up challenges in close collaboration with internal and external teams
• Build deep know‑how of our industrial processes and become one of the company’s go‑to experts for large‑scale manufacturing

In parallel: prepare our first industrial plant

• Support the design, build‑up and commissioning of MicroHarvest’s first industrial production site
• Work closely with the future Site Manager to translate process needs into plant reality
• Contribute to equipment selection, operational concepts, process layout, site readiness and ramp‑up planning
• Help define how the plant and site should be set up for safe, efficient and scalable operation
• Ensure a strong operational mindset in all project phases, from engineering to start‑up

Over time: grow into plant leadership

• Become the right hand and substitute of the future Site Manager
• Take increasing responsibility across operations, process engineering and plant readiness
• Help build the systems, discipline and culture needed for a high‑performing manufacturing organization
• Develop toward an Assistant Plant Manager / Deputy Plant Manager role, with the potential to take on broader site leadership in the future

Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in industrial production or plant engineering (biotech, fermentation, food, or chemical industry)
• Experience in process troubleshooting and optimization in a manufacturing environment
• Ability to work independently and manage operational topics with external partners
• Willingness to travel regularly to production sites
• Willingness to relocate to the Halle/Leipzig area
• Fluent in German and English (additional languages are a plus)

At MicroHarvest, we value diversity and as such we do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable laws. MicroHarvest respectfully encourages people from all backgrounds and under‑represented groups to apply for this position.