Senior Development Fermentation Engineer

Purpose and Key Accountability:  

We are hiring a Senior Development Fermentation Engineer to support our growth in food manufacturing with process optimization, scale up, and operational engineering support. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to be the technical lead and subject matter expert for process optimization/scale-up, commissioning, and technology transfer projects requiring creative solutions to support the rapid growth of the company. In this role, you will lead or participate in addressing critical issues within fermentation and help set and execute the strategic and tactical direction in upstream process development and related technologies. 

Responsibilities:  

• Assist operations staff with engineering tasks including maintaining, integrating, and troubleshooting fermentation equipment 
• Identify, develop and implement novel upstream technologies required to meet project objectives with respect to productivity, titer, yield and purity, and to deliver material for testing, customer samples and commercial production  
• Participate in a project team responsible for executing successful technology transfer and scale-up of fermentation and recovery processes to pilot and production plants  
• Collaborate cross-functionally to identify areas for optimization, draw up proposals for change implementation, and present proposals to team members for approval
• Serve as a resource for commissioning and scale-up activities both for operations and within the scale-up team  
• Identify and promote system improvement opportunities
• Continuously implement process improvements in integrating new technologies and equipment 

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering or a related discipline and 5+ years of experience in aerobic fermentation technology and process development 
• Deep technical acumen and expertise in development, implementation and optimization of fermentation processes that reproduce bench scale results at the pilot plant and manufacturing (25,000L to 100,000L) scales 
• Hands-on mechanical and electrical experience 
• Experience maintaining, operating, and troubleshooting fermentation equipment at commercial scale
• Expert level in microbial physiology and cultivation 
• Experienced in off-gas analysis and strong understanding of the physiological state of organisms  
• Highly proficient in developing technology transfer packages  
• Ability to coach and mentor colleagues and lead projects
• Self-starter with strong organizational, analysis, process design, training and general communication skills  

Nice-to-have Skills: 

• Commissioning experience within fermentation  
• Hands-on experience utilizing automation systems 
• Experience with downstream systems and processes 

 Physical Requirements:  

• Ability to stand frequently  
• Ability to lift/push/pull up to 50 lbs 
• Ability to bend, twist, and perform hand and arm motions  
• Utilizing ladders and a scissor lift to inspect, break-down, and troubleshoot bioreactor processes  
• Able to work in wet and hot environment 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Meati™ we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.**

Compensation:
The base salary range for this role is $95,000 - $125,000 annually, which is just one aspect of our total compensation package. In addition to the salary, this position is eligible for a potential annual bonus and equity! Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.