Senior Microbiologist - Fermentation & Bioprocess Development

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

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly experienced Senior Microbiologist with expertise in Fermentation and Bioprocess Development to join their advanced R&D team in Sandton . This role is critical for designing, optimizing, and scaling up microbial fermentation processes for the production of valuable biomolecules, such as enzymes, therapeutics, or industrial chemicals. You will lead projects from laboratory bench-scale to pilot-scale, ensuring process robustness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of microbial physiology, metabolic engineering, fermentation technology, and downstream processing, coupled with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and a passion for translating scientific innovation into viable industrial applications within a dynamic biotechnology sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and optimize fermentation processes using various microbial strains to maximize yield, titer, and productivity of target products.
• Develop and implement protocols for 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.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.Sc. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or a 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.
• Experience with various fermentation equipment and monitoring systems.
• Strong knowledge of downstream processing techniques for biomolecule purification.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to lead projects in Sandton .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending relevant industry conferences.
• A collaborative research environment with access to modern laboratory facilities in Sandton for bioprocess development .