Group Leader or Department Manager, Strain Engineering

Interested in a career that matters?

The Role and Your Impact:

Welcome to the role of Group Leader/Department Manager, Strain Engineering . You will join an empowered, cross-disciplinary R&D site that thrives on solving complex scientific challenges through collaboration and diverse expertise. We embrace ambitious goals, view change as an opportunity for growth and innovation, and foster an environment where individuals are empowered to contribute and learn from one another. Success is driven by a shared commitment to scientific excellence, mutual support, and the belief that the best outcomes are achieved when the team succeeds together.

You will lead and develop a research team dedicated to engineering microorganisms for production of small molecules or proteins. Beyond team leadership, this individual will play a key role in shaping the strategy and execution of strain engineering projects that employ metabolic and pathway engineering. The position requires close collaboration with colleagues around the globe to provide scientific insight for future product concepts and technology development.

Effective candidates will bring a strong ability to integrate expertise across strain engineering, microbial physiology, fermentation, systems biology and omics while balancing people leadership and individual contributions.

Key Responsibilities in this role:

Lead and develop a research team dedicated to engineering microorganisms for production of small molecules or proteins

Shape the strategy and execution of strain engineering projects that employ metabolic and pathway engineering by collaborating with colleagues around the globe to provide scientific insight for future product concepts and technology development.

Integrate expertise across strain engineering, microbial physiology, fermentation, systems biology and omics while balancing people leadership and individual contributions.

What You Will Need to be Successful:

PhD and 5+ years of experience in Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Systems Biology or related field; or MS and 8+ years of experience; or BS with 10+ years of experience.
2+ years of people leadership and development experience with a strong commitment to coaching, mentoring, and developing scientific talent.

Demonstrated industry experience leading metabolic engineering projects and cross-functional R&D teams, including multi-site collaborations with internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Skills and Interests We Value:

Industry experience working with diverse microbial hosts, including non-model bacteria and yeast.

Experience in applying computational and statistical methodologies to accelerate metabolic engineering programs. Compensation & Benefits Expected base salary range: $150,000 to $170,000 annually (depending on experience)401(k) with up to a 9% company contribution

Minimum of 3 weeks of vacation plus 12 holidays and 2 weeks of Wellness Time Health, Dental, Vision & Life insurance

Healthcare savings account option

Employee assistance program

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

All benefits begin on your first dayWays of Working:

Onsite in Davis, California Travel frequency is typically 1-3 weeks per year Application Deadline :
November 8, 2026

Our purpose guides the wayIn Novonesis, we know that solutions rooted in biology can help solve humanity’s biggest challenges. Since we began more than a century ago, this has been our guide. It’s how we've gotten so far. And it’s how we'll impact the future. Now, more than ever, the world needs change. And with biosolutions, the possibilities for transformation are endless.

If our purpose resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.

Opportunities for everyone

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and equal opportunity for all applicants. Therefore we ask you to apply without a cover letter or photo and instead include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.

We make all employment decisions based on business needs and welcome candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, including ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

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