Senior Microbiologist, Industrial Fermentation & Scale-Up

Placements24; Klerksdorp; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 in Klerksdorp, North West, is seeking a Senior Microbiologist to spearhead industrial fermentation efforts. You will drive R&D on microbial strains, fermentation optimization, and process scale-up from lab to pilot, with a focus on high-value biochemicals.

The role requires deep microbial physiology, genetics, and fermentation knowledge, plus strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to deliver sustainable biotechnological solutions.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with strong background in microbial physiology and fermentation.
• Proven ability to lead R&D projects and troubleshoot complex biological systems.
• Experience with scale-up from lab to pilot/production scales.

Responsibilities

• Lead research and development projects focused on optimizing microbial strains and fermentation parameters for enhanced product yield and quality.
• Design and execute experiments to study microbial physiology, metabolism, and genetic engineering for improved performance.
• Develop and validate protocols for microbial cultivation, inoculation, and large-scale fermentation.
• Monitor and control fermentation processes using advanced bioreactor systems, ensuring optimal growth and product formation.
• Analyze fermentation data, troubleshoot process deviations, and implement corrective actions.
• Conduct downstream processing development and optimization for product recovery and purification.
• Collaborate with chemical engineers and process development teams to ensure seamless technology transfer.

Skills

Microbiology

Fermentation

Genetic engineering

Bioprocess development

Data analysis

Education

PhD in Microbiology

Job description

Placements24 in Klerksdorp, North West, is seeking a Senior Microbiologist to spearhead industrial fermentation efforts. You will drive R&D on microbial strains, fermentation optimization, and process scale-up from lab to pilot, with a focus on high-value biochemicals.

The role requires deep microbial physiology, genetics, and fermentation knowledge, plus strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to deliver sustainable biotechnological solutions.