Research Associate

MaverickX; Pleasanton (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium health insurance

Continuing education

Equity participation

Job summary

MaverickX in Texas is seeking a Research Associate for the Bioprocess Technical Operations team. You will gain hands-on experience in fermentation and bioprocess development, working under experienced scientists and engineers to contribute to ongoing projects and optimization efforts.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in biotechnology or related fields and 2+ years of lab experience, plus hands-on bench-scale fermenter operation and microbial culture work.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years hands-on laboratory experience in fermentation or bioprocess development.
• Experience operating bench-scale fermenters or bioreactors.
• Strong understanding of pH, DO, temperature, agitation, and aeration control.
• Experience working with bacterial and other microbial cultures.
• Excellent record-keeping and adherence to SOPs and safety.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and sterilize culture media for fermentation experiments.
• Set up, operate, and monitor bench-scale bioreactors/fermenters.
• Monitor process parameters such as pH, DO, temperature, and agitation.
• Perform aseptic sampling and prepare samples for analysis.
• Support fermentation process development and optimization.
• Maintain documentation of procedures, data, and observations.

Skills

Fermentation & bioprocess development

Bench-scale bioreactor operation

Microbial culture handling

Record keeping & documentation

Teamwork & communication

Independent working

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in biochemical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, or a related field

Job description

The Company

MaverickX is revitalizing critical resource extraction with precision biologics. We are a team of scientists, engineers, and business operators who are bringing cutting‑edge biotechnology products to the world’s most critical industries.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate to join our Bioprocess Technical Operations team. Under the guidance of our experienced scientists and engineers, you will gain hands‑on experience and develop skills in fermentation and bioprocess development. The Research Associate will contribute to ongoing projects, conduct fermentation experiments as specified, and assist in bioprocess development activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, biochemical engineering, or a related field, along with experience working with microbial cultures and bench‑scale fermenters.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and sterilize culture media for fermentation experiments
• Set up, operate, and monitor bench‑scale bioreactors/fermenters
• Monitor and control key process parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, agitation, and aeration
• Perform aseptic sampling and prepare samples for analytical testing
• Support fermentation process development and optimization
• Evaluate media composition and feeding strategies to optimize microbial growth and productivity
• Clean, sterilize, and maintain bioreactors and associated process equipment
• Analyze fermentation data and prepare experimental reports
• Support process scale‑up from shake flasks to bench‑scale bioreactors
• Follow established SOPs and laboratory safety procedures
• Maintain accurate documentation of experimental procedures, process data, results, and observations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in biochemical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, or a related field
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience in a laboratory, fermentation, or bioprocess development environment
• Hands‑on experience operating bench‑scale fermenters or bioreactors, basic understanding of key process parameters
• Experience working with bacterial and other microbial cultures
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and in team and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and procedures

Our Values

• Customer First: Our first and foremost priority is to give customers technology that makes their business more valuable. There is no deviation from this north star
• Play to Win: This is a professional team, not a family. Hardcore work ethic is a baseline; measurable impact is how we define success
• Extreme Ownership: We are self‑starters who learn voraciously, master our domain, and take full accountability for the outcomes of our work
• Relentless Execution: A good idea is meaningless until it is solving a customer problem. Moving with speed, focus, and determination is how we win in our industry
• Radical Candor: Focused, direct, and impactful communication is our language. No time for beating around the bush
• Shared Success: Meaningful equity participation for employees means that when MaverickX wins, everyone wins
• Uncompromised Integrity: We do first‑class business in a first‑class way, while staying loyal to our customers, shareholders, employees, and country

Benefits

• At Maverick X, our compensation packages reflect our recognition of the value our employees bring to our success and our commitment to recruiting top talent. We cater our benefits to ensure our team succeeds both in and out of the office
• Premium health insurance: With medical, dental, and optical options, we offer some of the best coverage on the market
• Continuing education: We take employee development seriously and strive to unlock our team’s full potential through continuous learning initiatives