Fermentation Scientist
Listed on 2026-08-22
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Research/Development
Biotech Research, Biotechnology, Research Scientist, Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Oath is a leading microbial sciences company that utilizes natural soil biology to offer innovative solutions to some of the most critical challenges facing our planet - the climate crisis and the shift to sustainable agriculture. We imagine a world where these crises are not just alleviated, but reversed, replenishing Earth's microbiomes.
Our solution has moved beyond the lab and into real-world deployment, focused on improving farmer livelihoods with teams in Rwanda, Europe, the United States, and expanding. When you join Oath, you become part of a collaborative network that prioritizes high quality scientific work. You will be working alongside trained scientists, talented commercial teams, and a broad network of partners—an ecosystem designed to help you do your best work and grow your capabilities.
Position Summary:
The Fermentation Scientist will develop, optimize, and scale microbial fermentation processes across submerged liquid fermentation (SmF), solid-state fermentation (SSF), and downstream processing (DSP). This role will have a particular focus on Streptomyces and will help translate laboratory processes into robust, scalable manufacturing processes.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and optimize submerged liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation processes.
- Design and execute fermentation experiments from bench scale through scale‑up.
- Develop robust cultivation processes for Streptomyces and other microbial strains.
- Optimize media, inoculum strategies, growth conditions, productivity, yield, and process consistency.
- Develop and improve downstream processing (DSP) approaches for microbial biomass and product recovery.
- Troubleshoot fermentation and DSP performance and identify key drivers of process variability.
- Support process scale‑up and technology transfer to internal manufacturing teams and external CDMOs.
- Develop process documentation, protocols, batch records, and technical reports.
- Analyze experimental and manufacturing data and translate findings into actionable process improvements.
- Collaborate closely with microbiology, formulation, manufacturing, quality, and external partners.
Qualifications:
- PhD with 1–5 years of relevant industry experience in microbiology, biotechnology, biochemical engineering, fermentation science, or a related field.
- Hands‑on experience with submerged liquid fermentation and solid‑state fermentation.
- Experience cultivating Streptomyces or closely related filamentous microorganisms.
- Experience with downstream processing (DSP) and microbial biomass or product recovery.
- Experience with fermentation scale‑up and technology transfer is a plus.
- Experience managing R&D vendors, CROs, CDMOs, or other external technical partners is a plus.
- Ability to travel up to 10% of the time domestically and internationally (Europe & Africa).
- Familiarity with Google Suite, Excel, Slack and similar tools is a plus.
Location: Hybrid, Regular laboratory presence at Oath’s Vacaville, California site (at least 3 days per week).
Job Type: Full‑time, exempt position in the United States. At this time, Oath, Inc. is not able to provide visa sponsorship or work authorization support.
Compensation: $100,000 - $130,000/year + equity
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Stock options
As set forth in Oath’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
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