Industrial Microbial Strain Engineer – R&D Biotech

Cranleigh Scientific Ltd; Oxford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

HydRegen, Oxford-based at Begbroke Science Park, seeks a Genetic Scientist – Microbial Strain Engineering to join its Biology team. You will develop plasmid and microbial strain libraries to support enzyme biocatalyst production.

Essential experience includes hands-on industrial non-GMP microbial genetics for enzyme production and multi-gene bacterial expression, with strong data documentation. You will collaborate with fermentation, chemistry and analytical teams to optimise expression and

Qualifications

• Proven, hands-on industrial experience in non-GMP microbial genetics for enzyme production.
• Practical industrial experience with multi-gene bacterial expression and enzyme-yield optimisation.
• A degree in biology, microbiology, genetics, synthetic biology or a related discipline.
• Practical experience with cloning, DNA assembly and mutagenesis.
• Experience with genome-engineering approaches such as homologous recombination, CRISPR/Cas and/or FLP/FRT.
• Experience optimising gene expression and designing genetic constructs.
• Bioinformatics skills relevant to construct design and experimental work.
• Experience maintaining high-quality laboratory records and safety documentation.
• The ability to independently plan, deliver and analyse well-designed experiments.
• Clear communication skills and an understanding of confidentiality and intellectual property within an industrial environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop plasmid and chromosomal systems for multi-gene recombinant enzyme expression.
• Identify and engineer genetic targets affecting transcription, translation, protein maturation and metabolic burden.
• Apply techniques including knock-out, knock-in, gene editing, pathway engineering, cloning, DNA assembly and genomic integration.
• Optimise promoters, ribosome binding sites, terminators, copy number, selection markers, plasmid stability and expression control.
• Design experiments and characterise constructs using PCR, restriction digestion, sequencing and bioinformatics.
• Maintain genetic toolkits, plasmid libraries and microbial strain libraries.
• Use fermentation, test-expression, metabolomics, carbon-flux and expression-marker data to guide genetic design.
• Analyse experimental data, draw clear conclusions and make practical recommendations.
• Work with fermentation, chemistry and analytical colleagues to optimise strain performance across screening and process conditions.
• Prepare and maintain SOPs, reports, risk assessments, biosafety records and other technical documentation.
• Support molecular biology and cell culture laboratory operations, including inventories, consumables, equipment checks and safety documentation.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Proven hands-on industrial experience

Multi-gene bacterial expression

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology / microbiology / genetics / synthetic biology

Tools

cloning

DNA assembly

mutagenesis

Job description

HydRegen, Oxford-based at Begbroke Science Park, seeks a Genetic Scientist – Microbial Strain Engineering to join its Biology team. You will develop plasmid and microbial strain libraries to support enzyme biocatalyst production.

Essential experience includes hands-on industrial non-GMP microbial genetics for enzyme production and multi-gene bacterial expression, with strong data documentation. You will collaborate with fermentation, chemistry and analytical teams to optimise expression and