Director, Microbial Engineering & R&D

Surf Search Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Surf Search Inc. seeks Senior Manager / Director, R&D to lead a multidisciplinary team focused on engineering microbial production platforms and advancing recombinant strain technologies.

You will translate business goals into actionable research plans, mentor scientists, and collaborate across Fermentation, Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Business Development.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in molecular life sciences with research leadership experience.
• Strong expertise in microbial genetics, cloning, and synthetic biology.
• Hands-on genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas or related tech.
• Experience with recombinant protein expression systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of scientists and research associates.
• Set technical strategy and translate objectives into research milestones.
• Manage multiple programs and drive timely delivery with scientific excellence.
• Mentor staff and foster an innovation-driven research culture.
• Lead development of recombinant microbial production strains for therapeutics or industrial proteins.
• Design molecular biology and genome engineering strategies using modern tools.
• Enhance strain performance through productivity, secretion, and stability optimization.
• Develop workflows and high-throughput methods to accelerate screening.
• Collaborate with Fermentation, Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Represent findings to executives and cross-functional partners.

Skills

Molecular biology

Microbiology

Cloning techniques

Synthetic biology

Genome engineering

DOE and statistics

Data-driven decision making

Leadership and mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Synthetic Biology, Biotechnology, or related life sciences

Tools

LIMS

ELN

Genomics sequencing tools

Bioinformatics tools

Job description

Surf Search Inc. seeks Senior Manager / Director, R&D to lead a multidisciplinary team focused on engineering microbial production platforms and advancing recombinant strain technologies.

You will translate business goals into actionable research plans, mentor scientists, and collaborate across Fermentation, Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and Business Development.