Fermentation Scientist

Oath Biome; Vacaville (CA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Stock options

Job summary

Oath in Vacaville, California is seeking a Fermentation Scientist to develop, optimize, and scale microbial fermentation processes across submerged liquid fermentation (SmF), solid-state fermentation (SSF), and downstream processing (DSP), with a focus on Streptomyces.

This full-time, exempt role requires a PhD with 1–5 years of relevant industry experience, hands-on fermentation and DSP experience, and the ability to collaborate across microbiology, formulation, manufacturing, quality, and

Qualifications

• PhD with 1–5 years of relevant industry experience in microbiology, biotechnology, biochemical engineering, fermentation science, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with submerged liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation.
• Experience cultivating Streptomyces or closely related filamentous microorganisms.
• Experience with downstream processing (DSP) and microbial biomass or product recovery.
• Experience with fermentation scale-up and technology transfer is a plus.
• Experience managing R&D vendors, CROs, CDMOs, or other external technical partners is a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time domestically and internationally (Europe & Africa).
• Familiarity with GoogleSuite, Excel, Slack and similar tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize submerged liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation processes.
• Design and execute fermentation experiments from bench scale through scale-up.
• Develop robust cultivation processes for Streptomyces and other microbial strains.
• Optimize media, inoculum strategies, growth conditions, productivity, yield, and process consistency.
• Develop and improve downstream processing (DSP) approaches for microbial biomass and product recovery.
• Troubleshoot fermentation and DSP performance and identify key drivers of process variability.
• Support process scale-up and technology transfer to internal manufacturing teams and external CDMOs.
• Develop process documentation, protocols, batch records, and technical reports.
• Analyze experimental and manufacturing data and translate findings into actionable process improvements.
• Collaborate closely with microbiology, formulation, manufacturing, quality, and external partners.

Skills

Fermentation

Streptomyces

DSP

Laboratory skills

Education

PhD in related field

Tools

GoogleSuite

Excel

Slack

Job description

About Oath

Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that utilizes natural soil biology to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes.

About Oath

Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that utilizes natural soil biology to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes. Our solution has moved beyond the lab and into real-world deployment, focused on improving farmer livelihoods with teams in Rwanda, Europe, the United States, and expanding. When you join Oath, you become part of a collaborative network that prioritizes high quality scientific work. You will be working alongside trained scientists, talented commercial teams, and a broad network of partners—an ecosystem designed to help you do your best work and grow your capabilities.

Position Summary

The Fermentation Scientist will develop, optimize, and scale microbial fermentation processes across submerged liquid fermentation (SmF), solid-state fermentation (SSF), and downstream processing (DSP). This role will have a particular focus on Streptomyces and will help translate laboratory processes into robust, scalable manufacturing processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize submerged liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation processes.
• Design and execute fermentation experiments from bench scale through scale-up.
• Develop robust cultivation processes for Streptomyces and other microbial strains.
• Optimize media, inoculum strategies, growth conditions, productivity, yield, and process consistency.
• Develop and improve downstream processing (DSP) approaches for microbial biomass and product recovery.
• Troubleshoot fermentation and DSP performance and identify key drivers of process variability.
• Support process scale-up and technology transfer to internal manufacturing teams and external CDMOs.
• Develop process documentation, protocols, batch records, and technical reports.
• Analyze experimental and manufacturing data and translate findings into actionable process improvements.
• Collaborate closely with microbiology, formulation, manufacturing, quality, and external partners.

Qualifications

• PhD with 1–5 years of relevant industry experience in microbiology, biotechnology, biochemical engineering, fermentation science, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with submerged liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation.
• Experience cultivating Streptomyces or closely related filamentous microorganisms.
• Experience with downstream processing (DSP) and microbial biomass or product recovery.
• Experience with fermentation scale-up and technology transfer is a plus.
• Experience managing R&D vendors, CROs, CDMOs, or other external technical partners is a plus.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time domestically and internationally (Europe & Africa).
• Familiarity with GoogleSuite, Excel, Slack and similar tools is a plus

Location: Hybrid, Regular laboratory presence at Oath’s Vacaville, California site (at least 3 days per week).

Job Type: Full-time, exempt position in the United States. At this time, Oath, Inc. is not able to provide visa sponsorship or work authorization support.

Compensation: $100,000 - $130,000/year + equity

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Stock options