Fermentation Technician

Actalent; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Health Spending Account

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

PTO / Time Off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Fermentation Technician in Menomonee Falls, WI to produce microbial products for food, biofuels, and pharma applications. You will follow SOPs and batch records to scale microbes from cultures to full production, preparing media and solutions for runs.

The role requires aseptic technique, operation of large fermentation equipment, and documentation of yields and steps. Schedule is 2-2-3, 12-hour nights (6pm–6am) with a $4 night differential after training on days,

Qualifications

• Education in Biology, Microbiology, or Fermentation.
• Experience in food, chemical, or microbial manufacturing environments.
• Experience handling production process equipment under SOPs.

Responsibilities

• Produce microbial products following established fermentation processes.
• Scale up microbes from initial cultures to full production using SOPs and batch records.
• Prepare media and microbial solutions for fermentation runs.
• Operate large-scale fermentation equipment safely and efficiently.
• Apply aseptic technique daily to maintain sterility and prevent contamination.
• Perform sterilization, inoculation, and product recovery activities as needed.
• Document recovery, total yield, and quantities at each step.

Skills

Operate fermentation equipment

Fermentation principles

Aseptic technique

Laboratory testing

GC/HPLC & HP ChemStation

Clean-in-Place (CIP)

SOPs & batch records

Biology/Microbiology basics

SAP or ERP systems

Documentation accuracy

Education

Biology/Microbiology/Fermentation

Tools

GC/HPLC

HP ChemStation

Karl Fischer

pH meters

Microscopes

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Fermentation Technician

Responsibilities

• Produce microbial products for food, biofuels, and pharmaceutical applications using established fermentation processes.
• Follow detailed work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and batch records to scale up microbes from initial cultures through full production.
• Prepare media and microbial solutions accurately to support fermentation runs.
• Operate large-scale fermentation instrumentation and equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Apply aseptic technique daily when handling cultures, media, and equipment to maintain sterility and prevent contamination.
• Perform sterilization, inoculation, and product recovery activities as needed throughout the process.
• Track product from start to finish, including documenting recovery, total yield, and quantities at each processing step.

Essential Skills

• Ability to operate fermentation equipment and understand the fermentation process in a production environment.
• Practical understanding of fermentation principles and how they apply to scaling up microbial cultures.
• Demonstrated experience or training in aseptic technique and contamination control.
• Ability to perform basic laboratory testing on microbial solutions, including in-process and finished product samples.
• Experience using analytical instruments such as GC/HPLC and associated HP ChemStation software, Karl-Fisher, optical density measurements, pH meters, and microscopes.
• Familiarity with Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems and sanitation procedures for processing equipment.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch records, and detailed written instructions.
• Basic understanding of biology, microbiology, or fermentation science gained through education or hands‑on experience.
• Comfort working with SAP or similar enterprise systems for production and quality documentation.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in documentation, testing, and equipment operation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Education in Biology, Microbiology, or Fermentation.
• Experience in food, chemical, or microbial manufacturing environments.
• Experience as a chemical operator or in a similar production role involving process equipment.
• Familiarity with working under standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a regulated or quality‑focused environment.
• Interest in building a career in fermentation, microbial manufacturing, or related process industries.
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting with other fermentation and laboratory personnel.
• Willingness to work rotating night shifts and adapt to a structured production schedule.

Work Environment

This role is based at a microbial manufacturing site that includes both a production area and a laboratory. The Fermentation Technician works closely with a small team of three to five colleagues in the fermentation area to scale up microbes for customer needs, and also spends time in the lab preparing microbial solutions and performing basic analytical testing.

Schedule: 2-2-3, 12 hour night shift - 6pm to 6am

First 1-2 months will be training on day shift, once completed with training will switch to night shift and will receive a $4 shift differential on top of base pay.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Menomonee Falls, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $30.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms.

If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Menomonee Falls,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 4, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized