Fermentation Process Development Engineer – Hybrid (Stellenbosch)

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive medical aid

Retirement benefits

Professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art labs

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Process Development Engineer with a fermentation focus for our Stellenbosch facility in the Western Cape. The role combines lab-based development with remote data analysis in a hybrid work model to advance bio-based production.

The ideal candidate has MSc or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering with fermentation emphasis and 5+ years in industrial process development, plus hands-on bioreactor experience and data-analysis skills.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, or related field with fermentation focus.
• 5+ years of experience in industrial fermentation process development.
• Proven optimization of microbial growth and product formation in bioreactors.
• Strong understanding of microbial physiology, metabolic engineering, and bioprocess engineering principles.
• Hands-on bioreactor operation, monitoring, and control systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize microbial fermentation processes for yield, productivity, and product quality.
• Design and execute laboratory-scale and pilot-scale fermentation experiments.
• Analyze fermentation data, including kinetics, mass transfer, and metabolic pathways.
• Perform scale-up studies and identify critical process parameters.
• Troubleshoot fermentation issues and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and validate process models for fermentation systems.
• Collaborate with upstream and downstream teams for integrated development.
• Contribute to design/specification of new fermentation equipment and facilities.
• Maintain detailed experimental records and prepare technical reports.
• Stay updated on advancements in fermentation technology.

Skills

Fermentation experience

Bioprocess engineering

Data analysis

Analytical mindset

Team collaboration

Education

MSc or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering (fermentation focus)

Tools

JMP

R

Bioreactor operation

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Process Development Engineer with a fermentation focus for our Stellenbosch facility in the Western Cape. The role combines lab-based development with remote data analysis in a hybrid work model to advance bio-based production.

The ideal candidate has MSc or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering with fermentation emphasis and 5+ years in industrial process development, plus hands-on bioreactor experience and data-analysis skills.