Senior Microbiologist - Fermentation Specialist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary package with incentives

Health insurance & retirement fund

Paid time off and development

Modern fermentation facilities

Innovative biotech environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Microbiologist for its Durban-based R&D team. The role centers on optimizing microbial fermentation processes to improve yield, purity, and efficiency for industrial applications.

You will lead projects, troubleshoot challenges, and contribute to innovative strategies in a hands-on laboratory setting. The ideal candidate has an MSc or PhD in Microbiology or Biotechnology with at least six years of hands-on fermentation experience, plus expertise in bioreactor

Qualifications

• MSc. or Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or related field with a fermentation focus.
• Minimum of 6 years hands-on experience in industrial or academic fermentation R&D.
• Experience with microbial physiology, bioreactor operation, and downstream processing.
• Proficiency in HPLC, GC, and spectrophotometry.
• Strong project management and teamwork in a Durban setting.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor large-scale microbial fermentation experiments to optimize product yield and quality.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for fermentation products and process intermediates.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to microbial growth, contamination, and process parameters.
• Collaborate with process engineers to ensure scale-up from laboratory to pilot and production scales.
• Stay abreast of advancements in fermentation technology and microbial strain development.

Skills

Project management

Teamwork

Fermentation science

Education

MSc or PhD in Microbiology/Biotechnology

Tools

HPLC

GC

Spectrophotometry

Bioreactor operation

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Microbiologist with specialized expertise in fermentation processes to join their dynamic research and development team in Durban . This role is central to the optimization and scale-up of microbial fermentation for the production of valuable compounds. You will be responsible for leading projects, troubleshooting fermentation challenges, and developing innovative strategies to improve yield, purity, and efficiency. This position is ideal for a dedicated scientist who is passionate about microbial systems and eager to contribute to impactful industrial applications within a collaborative, hands-on laboratory environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and monitor large-scale microbial fermentation experiments to optimize product yield and quality.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for characterizing fermentation products and process intermediates.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to microbial growth, contamination, and process parameters.
• Collaborate with process engineers to ensure successful scale-up from laboratory to pilot and production scales.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in fermentation technology and microbial strain development.

Requirements

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Microbiology, Biotechnology, or a closely related field, with a strong focus on fermentation science.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands‑on experience in industrial or academic fermentation research and development.
• Demonstrated expertise in microbial physiology, bioreactor operation, and downstream processing.
• Proficiency in relevant analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, and spectrophotometry.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to work effectively in a team‑oriented setting in Durban .

Benefits

• Attractive annual salary package with performance incentives.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement fund contributions.
• Paid time off and opportunities for continued professional development.
• Access to modern fermentation facilities and analytical instrumentation in KwaZulu‑Natal .
• A stimulating work environment focused on innovation and industrial biotechnology.