Fermentation Scientist

Located in Thousand Oaks, California, 20

BLOC is a small privately held development-stage biopharmaceutical company, driven by a mission to create breakthrough protein-based drugs to save lives. Our lead product is an innovative solution to provide oxygen to tissues. Check us out at

We are looking for a motivated and hands-on Fermentation Scientist to join our team.

The Fermentation Scientist will be a key part of the R&D team, responsible for the setup, operation, and optimization of benchtop-scale (5L) bioreactor fermentations, and to support downstream protein recovery efforts. This role sits at the interface of upstream process development and downstream purification and is ideal for a scientist who enjoys both hands-on lab work and process troubleshooting in a fast-paced biotech environment.

This is a full-time, on-site position located in Thousand Oaks, CA.

• Set up, sterilize, calibrate, and operate 5L bench-top bioreactor systems (e.g., Eppendorf Bioflo
  120/DASGIP, equivalent) for microbial fermentation runs
• Prepare fermentation media, feed solutions, and inoculum trains according to established protocols
• Execute fed-batch and batch fermentation processes, including induction strategies (e.g., methanol induction for Pichia pastoris, IPTG induction for
  
  E. coli)
• Monitor and control critical process parameters (pH, DO, temperature, agitation, feed rates) and troubleshoot deviations in real time
• Collect and analyze in-process samples (OD600, wet cell weight, metabolite/off-gas analysis) to track culture performance
• Maintain accurate, detailed fermentation records and contribute to SOP development and revision
• Support scale-up/scale-down studies and technology transfer activities
• Perform cell harvest via centrifugation and/or filtration (TFF, depth filtration)
• Support cell lysis, clarification, and initial capture steps for recombinant protein recovery
• Assist with chromatography-based purification (affinity, IEX, HIC, SEC) and buffer preparation
• Perform basic analytical characterization of process intermediates (SDS-PAGE, Bradford/BCA, UV280) to assess yield and purity
• Collaborate with analytical/QC teams to support in-process and release testing

• Maintain laboratory equipment, perform routine calibration/maintenance, and manage consumable inventory
• Contribute to process development reports, tech transfer packages, and internal presentations
• Work cross-functionally with strain engineering, analytical, and process development teams to advance programs from bench to pilot scale
• Adhere to laboratory safety practices and, where applicable, GLP/GMP documentation standards

• B.S. or M.S. in Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or related field, plus 2+ years of relevant hands-on fermentation experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Working knowledge of fermentation fundamentals (pH/DO control, feeding strategies, sterile technique, aseptic sampling)
• Basic understanding of downstream protein recovery unit operations (centrifugation, filtration, chromatography)
• Strong record-keeping, attention to detail, and ability to troubleshoot process deviations independently
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) for data entry, inventory tracking, and routine recordkeeping.
• Availability to work non-standard hours as needed based on business and operational demands

• Experience with Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii),
  
  E. coli, or other industrial expression hosts
• Familiarity with SCADA/process control software (e.g., Bio Command, MFCS, DeltaV) and…