Fermentation Scientist

Yahoo! Inc.; 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, Inc. is seeking a Fermentation Scientist to develop, optimize, and scale microbial fermentation processes across SmF, SSF, and DSP. You will focus on Streptomyces and translate lab work into scalable manufacturing processes, collaborating with microbiology, formulation, and manufacturing teams.

The role requires PhD with 1–5 years of relevant experience, hands-on fermentation expertise, and ability to travel up to 10%. Hybrid work in Vacaville, CA with equity compensation and benefits.

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 fermentation scale‑up and technology transfer 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

PhD with 1–5 years of experience

Submerged liquid fermentation

Solid-state fermentation

Streptomyces cultivation

Downstream processing (DSP)

Fermentation scale‑up & tech transfer

Vendor management

Travel up to 10%

Google Suite / Excel / Slack

Education

PhD in microbiology/biotechnology/biochemical engineering/fermentation science

Job description

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

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Stock options

As set forth in Oath’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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