Senior Fermentation Engineer: Industrial Scale Bioprocessing

Placements24; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Health and retirement benefits

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Chemical Engineer for a biotechnology client in Pretoria, Gauteng. The role focuses on optimizing industrial-scale fermentation processes and designing new bioprocess strategies for biochemicals in a GMP environment.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering with 7+ years of experience, strong microbial physiology knowledge, and hands-on bioreactor and downstream processing expertise. Relocation to Pretoria is supported.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in industrial fermentation process development and scale-up.
• Strong understanding of microbial physiology and metabolism.
• Experience with various bioreactor types and operation modes.
• Knowledge of downstream processing techniques for biomolecules.
• Proficiency in process modeling and simulation tools relevant to bioprocesses.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Based in or willing to relocate to Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the design, operation, and optimization of industrial fermentation processes.
• Develop and implement strategies for media optimization and strain improvement to enhance yields and productivity.
• Manage bioreactor operations, including monitoring critical process parameters (temperature, pH, DO).
• Design and troubleshoot downstream processing steps, such as separation, purification, and formulation.
• Conduct process hazard analyses (PHAs) and implement appropriate safety controls for bioprocesses.
• Scale up fermentation processes from laboratory to pilot and commercial scales.
• Analyze experimental data, interpret results, and generate comprehensive reports.
• Collaborate with microbiologists, molecular biologists, and process engineers.
• Ensure compliance with GMP standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Industrial fermentation

Bioreactor design

Downstream processing

GMP knowledge

Process modeling

Microbial physiology

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering

Tools

Bioprocess software

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Chemical Engineer for a biotechnology client in Pretoria, Gauteng. The role focuses on optimizing industrial-scale fermentation processes and designing new bioprocess strategies for biochemicals in a GMP environment.

Ideal candidates hold a Master’s or PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering with 7+ years of experience, strong microbial physiology knowledge, and hands-on bioreactor and downstream processing expertise. Relocation to Pretoria is supported.