Senior Scientist, Fermentation

ZipRecruiter; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Aralez Bio is seeking a Head of Enzyme Production to oversee the production of noncanonical amino acids. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in fermentation processes, team leadership, and a strong educational background in relevant fields, contributing to innovations in biotechnology.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k

Unlimited time off

Catered lunch

Professional development

Qualifications

• 5+ years industry experience for PhD holders.
• 8+ years industry experience for Master's.
• 10+ years industry experience for Bachelor's.

Responsibilities

• Lead the fermentation team and manage resources.
• Drive upstream fermentation efforts in bioreactors.
• Conduct downstream processing including enzyme purification.

Skills

Optimizing fermentation processes

Mentoring team members

Strategic thinking

Troubleshooting expression challenges

Education

PhD in relevant fields

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Description

About the Company

We envision a world where we continuously, sustainably, and affordably improve human life with synthetic biology. Our proprietary set of enzymes and manufacturing approach enables the production of thousands of amino acids that were previously too difficult and expensive to make. These "noncanonical" amino acids are already catalyzing the creation of revolutionary products beneficial for people and the planet.

Our technology outperforms traditional manufacturing approaches by 10–100x. We sell products to major pharmaceutical companies, including components used in blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

We are a diverse, passionate, interdisciplinary team committed to innovation and continuous improvement, aiming to leave the world better than we found it.

About the Role

Aralez Bio seeks an experienced leader in fermentation and protein purification to head the enzyme production team. This team produces enzymes for our line of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), used in drug discovery and manufacturing. As a startup, we continually develop and improve our processes. Successful candidates will have expertise in process development, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure timely and high-quality enzyme production.

What You'll Do

• Lead the fermentation team, providing mentorship and managing resources.
• Drive upstream fermentation efforts, including hands-on optimization in bioreactors from bench-scale to 100L.
• Conduct downstream processing, including cell lysis, enzyme purification, and quantification.
• Troubleshoot expression challenges and develop strategies for difficult proteins.
• Ensure data integrity and technical excellence across process development and scale-up stages.

What You'll Bring

Must have experience with:

• Optimizing fermentation processes for enzyme expression.
• Refining SOPs and maintaining records.
• Producing enzymes at pilot or commercial scale and working with CDMOs.
• Maintaining databases of production data and enzyme stocks.
• Mentoring team members and fostering growth.

Nice to have experience with:

• Bioreactor construction and maintenance.
• Vector design.
• Factors affecting enzyme solubility and activity.
• Purification conditions and enzymatic by-products.
• Enzyme activity screening.
• Project management.
• Media formulations.

Essential traits:

• Reliable, proactive, and hands-on.
• Ownership mindset, strategic thinking, goal setting, and KPI measurement.
• Adaptable, solutions-oriented, positive attitude in challenging situations.

Qualifications:

• PhD in relevant fields with 5+ years industry experience.
• Master's with 8+ years industry experience.
• BS with 10+ years industry experience.

Compensation

Salary range is $120,000-$150,000 annually, based on experience and performance, plus equity and benefits.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401k
• Flexible Spending Account
• Unlimited time off
• Catered lunch
• Professional development
• Annual retreat

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusivity. We comply with all relevant laws and provide accommodations as needed. All hires must verify eligibility to work in the U.S.