Senior Fermentation Scientist & Process Development — Equity

Berkner Group; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental coverage

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Berkner Group is seeking a Senior Fermentation Scientist / Process Development Engineer in the Raleigh/Durham area to design and execute yeast fermentation and protein production processes. You will drive high-yield fermentation programs and collaborate with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced startup environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, process optimization, and scale-up from bench to pilot plants, with a focus on sustainable biotechnology and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• B.S./M.S. with 6+ years of hands-on fermentation and process development experience or 4+ years with a PhD.
• Experience in microbial fermentation from lab to industrial scale, preferably in agri/food/pharma sectors.
• Strong knowledge of fermentation principles, processes, and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Lead process development for high yield protein and enzyme production, hands-on.
• Characterize yeast fermentation performance across well plates, shake flasks, benchtop and pilot fermenters.
• Optimize fermentation media and processes to maximize protein titer, including feed composition, profiles, mixing, gas management, and pH control.
• Setup, maintenance, and operation of bench and pilot bioreactors and sensors.
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance; maintain detailed documentation for quality control.
• Collaborate with scientists to track and improve protein quality and activity.
• Facilitate technology transfer to CMOs.

Skills

Fermentation

Process development

Bioprocess

Yeast fermentation

Lab skills

3D printing

Molecular analysis of proteins

Education

B.S./M.S. in chemical/biochemical engineering, bioengineering, or microbiology

PhD in chemical/biochemical engineering, bioengineering, or related field

Tools

Bioreactors

Sensors/instrumentation

Pilot scale fermentation

Rapid prototyping/fabrication

Job description

Berkner Group is seeking a Senior Fermentation Scientist / Process Development Engineer in the Raleigh/Durham area to design and execute yeast fermentation and protein production processes. You will drive high-yield fermentation programs and collaborate with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced startup environment.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, process optimization, and scale-up from bench to pilot plants, with a focus on sustainable biotechnology and regulatory compliance.