Microbial Strain Engineer

Genetic Scientist – Microbial Strain Engineering (Biology R&D)

Oxford – Begbroke Science Park I £45,000–£55,000
depending on experience

Join Hyd Regen

We’re recruiting for a
Genetic Scientist – Microbial Strain Engineering
to join
Hyd Regen
, an innovative biotechnology company developing biocatalytic hydrogenation technologies for more sustainable chemical manufacturing through scalable, enzyme-based solutions.

This is an industrial R&D position for an experienced scientist with a strong background in
microbial genetics, molecular biology, synthetic biology and metabolic engineering
. You’ll play an important role in engineering microbial strains and expression systems to improve enzyme performance and support the scale-up of next-generation biocatalysts.

Hands-on industrial experience is essential for this position.We’re looking for candidates with proven
industrial experience in non-GMP microbial genetics for enzyme production
. This should include practical experience of multi-gene bacterial expression, enzyme-yield optimisation, laboratory records and safety documentation.

Working within Hyd Regen’s Biology team and reporting to the
Head of Biology
, you’ll develop and improve plasmid and microbial strain libraries to support enzyme biocatalyst production.

Using a combination of laboratory-based and in silico genetic techniques, you’ll work to improve enzyme expression, stability, titre, activity, yield, productivity and robustness.

You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across fermentation, chemistry, analytical science, R&D, QC and production, using experimental and process data to guide genetic design and improve strain performance.

This is a
non-GMP, lab-based industrial R&D role
where scientific rigour, practical delivery and high-quality documentation are equally important.

• Develop plasmid and chromosomal systems for multi-gene recombinant enzyme expression.

• Identify and engineer genetic targets affecting transcription, translation, protein maturation and metabolic burden.

• Apply techniques including knock-out, knock-in, gene editing, pathway engineering, cloning, DNA assembly and genomic integration.

• Optimise promoters, ribosome binding sites, terminators, copy number, selection markers, plasmid stability and expression control.

• Design experiments and characterise constructs using PCR, restriction digestion, sequencing and bioinformatics.

• Maintain genetic toolkits, plasmid libraries and microbial strain libraries.

• Use fermentation, test-expression, metabolomics, carbon-flux and expression-marker data to guide genetic design.

• Analyse experimental data, draw clear conclusions and make practical recommendations.

• Work with fermentation, chemistry and analytical colleagues to optimise strain performance across screening and process conditions.

• Prepare and maintain SOPs, reports, risk assessments, biosafety records and other technical documentation.

• Support molecular biology and cell culture laboratory operations, including inventories, consumables, equipment checks and safety documentation.

• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly to internal teams and external partners.

To be considered for this position, you will need:

• Proven, hands‑on industrial experience in non-GMP microbial genetics for enzyme production.

• Practical industrial experience with multi-gene bacterial expression and enzyme‑yield optimisation.

• A degree in biology, microbiology, genetics, synthetic biology or a related discipline.

• Practical experience with cloning, DNA assembly and mutagenesis.

• Experience with relevant genome‑engineering approaches such as homologous recombination, CRISPR/Cas and/or FLP/FRT.

• Experience optimising gene expression and designing genetic constructs.

• Bioinformati…