Engineer, Microbial Fermentation

Company Description

Hexagon Bio leverages a genomics-based platform and understanding of natural product evolution to develop next-generation medicines for human disease. Hexagon Bio's algorithms identify gene clusters that encode the machinery needed to produce specialized metabolites that can be harnessed against human disease targets. Our unique platform allows us to produce new chemical leads based on these findings. We use data science, genomics, synthetic biology and automation to discover potent, evolutionarily refined small molecules and their cognate targets from fungal genomes, and apply medicinal chemistry when needed to optimize these molecules into truly transformative medicines. 

Location: Menlo Park, CA

Job description: 

We are looking for a microbial fermentation engineer to join our fermentation team.  In this full-time, lab-based position, you will occupy a key role in our efforts to produce metabolites of interest in bioreactors with high titer, yield, and productivity and enable new and novel fermentation configurations that better induce and elicit microbial secondary metabolism.  As part of the effort to improve quantitative performance indicators in fermentation, you will design, execute, and analyze research and development experiments in bioreactors, leveraging a wide breadth of process control and analytical technologies.  As part of the effort to explore and exploit the full range of operational modes available in bioreactors, you will have the opportunity to configure and run canonical and non-canonical batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentations, and in so doing, facilitate qualitatively higher-grade control of the physiological characteristics of microbes of interest.

Key Qualifications

• Ph.D. with 0-2 years of industrial experience or M.Sc. with 5-7 years of industrial experience required, with clear scientific research achievements in microbial fermentation or related fields of biological, biochemical, or chemical engineering
• Demonstrated experience in conducting independent research and development in bioreactors
• Expertise in microbial physiology and cultivation
• Experience instituting batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes of fermentation
• Comprehensive domain knowledge of fermentation optimization strategies
• Strong proficiency in experimental design, planning, execution, analysis, and troubleshooting
• Experience using inferential statistical techniques in experimental design and data analysis
• Experience with and understanding of fermentation control software and its capabilities, including ability to program complex control strategies
• Conceptual and practical familiarity with a broad range of on-line, at-line, and off-line process control and analytical technologies associated with bioreactor fermentation
• Proficiency in chemometric and biometric modeling and orthogonal validation approaches for fermentation monitoring and control
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build transparent and collaborative relationships across the company
• Exceptional interpersonal skills that foster collaboration, teamwork, scientific excellence, and continuous innovation

What We Offer:

• A flexible and dynamic work environment, where you pave your own path; Hexagon cultivates the unique strengths of employees at all levels and provides mobility across departments.
• “All Hands Meetings” provide an opportunity to share company and team updates. These meetings are rooted in our value of transparency and designed to foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and open communication.
• Discretionary paid time-off policy & paid holidays
• Competitive compensation and a robust benefits package: a comprehensive suite of medical, dental, and vision insurance plans through TriNet, which offers additional voluntary benefits (pet insurance, accident insurance, home & auto insurance, and more).
• Equity and a 401(k) plan.
• Rapid career advancement for driven performers.
• Access to scientific conferences all over the country, throughout the year.
• A range of amenities, courtesy of the Menlo Park Labs business park including shuttle, gym, rock-climbing wall, pool, sports courts, cafe, bike lockers, and free EV charging stations.
• Opportunities to engage with the Hexagon community through team-building events like our monthly Hexagon Happy Hour and holiday parties.

The salary range for this full-time position is $120,000 to $140,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across California locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Hexagon Bio is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workplace. All applicants will be considered equally without regard to race, color, ethnicity, veteran status, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, membership in an organization or any other non-merit factors.