Fermentation Scientist

20BLOC; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

20BLOC, located in Thousand Oaks, California, is seeking a hands-on Fermentation Scientist to drive bench-scale bioreactor fermentations and support downstream protein recovery in a fast-paced biotech setting.

The role requires a B.S./M.S. in a related field and 2+ years of fermentation experience, with responsibilities spanning media prep, cultivation, sampling, and process troubleshooting on-site in Thousand Oaks.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or related field; 2+ years of hands-on fermentation experience.
• Working knowledge of fermentation fundamentals and downstream protein recovery.
• Good record-keeping and ability to troubleshoot deviations independently.
• Experience with MS Office for data entry and inventory tracking.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate 5L bench-top bioreactor fermentations.
• Prepare media, feed solutions, and inoculum trains.
• Perform fed-batch and batch fermentations with induction strategies.
• Monitor pH/DO/temperature, collect in-process data, and troubleshoot deviations.
• Assist with cell harvest, clarification, and initial capture steps.

Skills

Record-keeping

Communication

MS Office

Non-standard hours

Education

B.S./M.S. in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering

Tools

SCADA/Process control software

TFF/UF-DF/ÄKTA

Data historians

Job description

Located in Thousand Oaks, California, 20BLOC is a small privately held development-stage biopharmaceutical company, driven by a mission to create breakthrough protein-based drugs to save lives. Our lead product is an innovative solution to provide oxygen to tissues. Check us out at www.20bloc.com.

We are looking for a motivated and hands-on Fermentation Scientist to join our team.

How you will add value to 20BLOC

The Fermentation Scientist will be a key part of the R&D team, responsible for the setup, operation, and optimization of benchtop-scale (5L) bioreactor fermentations, and to support downstream protein recovery efforts. This role sits at the interface of upstream process development and downstream purification and is ideal for a scientist who enjoys both hands-on lab work and process troubleshooting in a fast-paced biotech environment.

This is a full-time, on-site position located in Thousand Oaks, CA.

Key Responsibilities:

Upstream / Fermentation

• Set up, sterilize, calibrate, and operate 5L bench-top bioreactor systems (e.g., Eppendorf Bioflo120/DASGIP, equivalent) for microbial fermentation runs
• Prepare fermentation media, feed solutions, and inoculum trains according to established protocols
• Execute fed-batch and batch fermentation processes, including induction strategies (e.g., methanol induction for Pichia pastoris, IPTG induction for E. coli)
• Monitor and control critical process parameters (pH, DO, temperature, agitation, feed rates) and troubleshoot deviations in real time
• Collect and analyze in-process samples (OD600, wet cell weight, metabolite/off-gas analysis) to track culture performance
• Maintain accurate, detailed fermentation records and contribute to SOP development and revision
• Support scale-up/scale-down studies and technology transfer activities
• Perform cell harvest via centrifugation and/or filtration (TFF, depth filtration)
• Support cell lysis, clarification, and initial capture steps for recombinant protein recovery
• Assist with chromatography-based purification (affinity, IEX, HIC, SEC) and buffer preparation
• Perform basic analytical characterization of process intermediates (SDS-PAGE, Bradford/BCA, UV280) to assess yield and purity
• Collaborate with analytical/QC teams to support in-process and release testing

Cross-functional

• Maintain laboratory equipment, perform routine calibration/maintenance, and manage consumable inventory
• Contribute to process development reports, tech transfer packages, and internal presentations
• Work cross-functionally with strain engineering, analytical, and process development teams to advance programs from bench to pilot scale
• Adhere to laboratory safety practices and, where applicable, GLP/GMP documentation standards

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or related field, plus 2+ years of relevant hands-on fermentation experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Working knowledge of fermentation fundamentals (pH/DO control, feeding strategies, sterile technique, aseptic sampling)
• Basic understanding of downstream protein recovery unit operations (centrifugation, filtration, chromatography)
• Strong record-keeping, attention to detail, and ability to troubleshoot process deviations independently
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) for data entry, inventory tracking, and routine recordkeeping.
• Availability to work non-standard hours as needed based on business and operational demands

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii), E. coli, or other industrial expression hosts
• Familiarity with SCADA/process control software (e.g., BioCommand, MFCS, DeltaV) and data historians
• Experience with TFF/UF-DF, protein chromatography systems (ÄKTA or equivalent), and related analytics
• Exposure to a GMP or regulated manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting scale-up from bench to pilot or production scale
• Willingness and ability to perform duties beyond the scope of this job description as business needs require.
• Ability to safely lift and move materials up to 50 lbs

This is a full-time, on-site position located in Thousand Oaks, California, and requires working on-site Monday through Friday. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. We are not sponsoring employment visas.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $90,000-110,000. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including, without limitation, individual education, experience, tenure, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data, including potential adjustments for geographic location.

20BLOC is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits including health, dental, vision and life insurance, 401(k) and paid time off.