Senior Fermentation & Bioprocess Development Scientist

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan with employer matching

Generous PTO

Professional development

Modern lab facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Senior Microbiologist to join its advanced R&D team in Sandton. You will design, optimize, and scale up microbial fermentation processes for production of biomolecules, enzymes, or therapeutics.

The role requires a Ph.D. or MSc in microbiology/biochemical engineering with at least 5 years' industrial fermentation experience, and a track record in downstream processing and technology transfer to industry partners.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MSc in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in industrial microbiology and fermentation process development.
• Proven expertise in optimizing microbial growth conditions and metabolic pathways for bioproduction.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with ability to lead projects in Sandton.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize fermentation processes to maximize yield, titer, and productivity.
• Develop inoculum preparation, media optimization, and process control strategies.
• Conduct experiments to investigate critical process parameters and optimize operating conditions for scale-up.
• Perform downstream processing development, including cell harvesting, purification, and product isolation.
• Troubleshoot fermentation and bioprocess issues, identifying root causes and implementing effective solutions.
• Collaborate with engineering and quality assurance teams to ensure successful technology transfer and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Fermentation process development

Bioprocess development

Microbiology

Analytical skills

Project leadership

Regulatory awareness

Education

PhD in Microbiology/Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering

MSc in Microbiology/Biotechnology

Tools

Fermentation equipment

Process monitoring systems

Downstream processing equipment

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Senior Microbiologist to join its advanced R&D team in Sandton. You will design, optimize, and scale up microbial fermentation processes for production of biomolecules, enzymes, or therapeutics.

The role requires a Ph.D. or MSc in microbiology/biochemical engineering with at least 5 years' industrial fermentation experience, and a track record in downstream processing and technology transfer to industry partners.