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Bioreactor Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

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Bioreactor information

See Illinois salary details

$44.1K

$98.2K

$157K

How much do bioreactor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for bioreactor in Illinois is $98,185.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,900.00 and $111,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a bioreactor?

A Bioreactor job typically involves the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of bioreactors used in biopharmaceutical, food, or industrial biotechnology production. Professionals in this role ensure optimal conditions for cell cultures or microbial fermentation processes, adjusting parameters like pH, temperature, and oxygen levels. They also troubleshoot equipment issues, collect and analyze samples, and comply with industry regulations. This role is essential in producing biologics, vaccines, enzymes, and other biotech products.

What does a bioreactor operator do?

A typical day for a Bioreactor Operator or Technician involves preparing and maintaining bioreactor equipment, monitoring culture conditions, recording process data, and troubleshooting any operational issues that arise. You’ll often work closely with quality assurance teams, engineers, and scientists to ensure that production runs smoothly and meets regulatory standards. Routine tasks may include sampling, calibration, cleaning, and adjusting process parameters as needed. This collaborative and dynamic environment allows you to expand your technical skills and play a vital role in the successful production of biopharmaceuticals or other biotech products.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a bioreactor operator?

To thrive as a Bioreactor Operator or Technician, you need a solid background in biotechnology, microbiology, or chemical engineering, often supported by an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field. Proficiency with bioreactor systems, control software, and quality assurance protocols is crucial, and relevant certifications such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) are highly valued. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and strong teamwork abilities set top performers apart in this role. These capabilities ensure safe, efficient, and compliant bioprocessing operations that are vital for producing high-quality biological products.

What are the most commonly searched types of Bioreactor jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Bioreactor jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Bioreactor jobs in Illinois?

For Bioreactor jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Bioreactor jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Bioreactor jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Bioreactor jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Bioreactor job openings:

Bioreactor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Bioreactor job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 6% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,185 per year, or $47.2 per hour.

Senior Fermentation Scientist - Sumitomo Biorational Company

Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of America

Libertyville, IL • On-site

$124K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

About Sumitomo Biorational Company:
Headquartered in Libertyville, Ill., Sumitomo Biorational Company is the Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation, advancing integrated, science-driven solutions in agriculture, public health, forest health, and environmental markets. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Biorational operates through three divisions: AgroSolutions, Environmental Health (MGK), and Public Health & Forest Health, leveraging decades of expertise to drive innovation and sustainability for customers worldwide.

Description of Job: Lead internal upstream process development efforts at the Sumitomo Biorational Company Biorational Research Center by conducting fermentation experiments in laboratory- and pilot-scale bioreactors. Evaluate the performance of microbial strain candidates by analysis and interpretation of fermentation data. Work with a team of fermentation scientists, downstream process engineers, formulations scientists, microbial engineers and analytical chemists to develop sustainable biorational solutions within the expanding field of BioAgriculture.

Principal Responsibilities:

  • Design and implement upstream processes to optimize strain performance of bacterial and fungal microorganisms to produce microbial products, metabolites and proteins
  • Mentor junior team members by training safe and proper use of fermentation and analytical equipment required to execute process development and improvement experiments
  • Provide guidance to research associates and support their professional development
  • Take primary responsibility for the operation and troubleshooting of pilot scale fermentation equipment
  • Design scale up and scale down experiments to execute seamless technology transfer between Research and Manufacturing operations
  • Build strong relationships with supporting research departments and deliver fermentations on time or ahead of schedule to biology, downstream processing, formulations, and product development teams
  • Travel to manufacturing site to launch new fermentation processes and troubleshoot current commercial processes
  • Maintain and further develop collaborative relationship with the pilot and production fermentation team at the manufacturing site
  • Execute sophisticated process development experiments utilizing statistical tools to ensure process robustness
  • Work alongside data scientists, IT, and engineering to build and maintain a digital system to organize and archive run data and electronic batch records
  • Maintain and update laboratory data and documents including electronic lab notebook and SOPs
  • Conduct all work in strict compliance with all applicable safety requirements, containment requirements, standards operating procedures and/or guidelines while maintaining a clean and orderly workspace
  • Work both independently and with interdisciplinary research teams while maintaining a positive and collaborative environment

Required skills/experience:

  • Expertise in culturing microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, to increase metabolite productivity using aseptic techniques Hands-on experience using lab-scale or pilot-scale SIP bioreactor systems for microbial cultivations and metabolite production, particularly with non-model bacterial and fungal organisms
  • Experience training junior scientists in the use of fermentation equipment and execution of process development experiments
  • High degree of competency in the Microsoft Office 365 suite and statistical analysis software
  • Strong communication, presentation, and listening skills in cross-functional teams
  • Willingness to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion.
  • Able to lift up to 25 lbs

Education: Degree in Fermentation Science, Chemical/Biochemical/Biosystems Engineering, or closely related field with industrial fermentation experience (5 years with PhD, 8 years with MS, 12+ years with BS).

Travel: Limited travel will be required. (<5%)

What We Offer

We recognize that compensation and benefits play a crucial role in your career decisions. That’s why we’re dedicated to equitable pay practices and transparency in how we reward our employees.

Base Salary: The estimated annual base salary for this position ranges from:

$124,000 to $145,000. Individual pay is based upon location, skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Incentives: All full-time employees are eligible for an incentive program or profit-sharing program in addition to their base salary.

Benefits:

  • High-quality healthcare coverage starting on day one, with options for medical (HSA/HRA), vision, and dental plans
  • 5% company contribution to your 401(k), plus a quarterly discretionary bonus
  • Immediate 100% vesting of all retirement contributions
  • Financial assistance programs to support your goals
  • Life and disability insurance for added security
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and volunteer days

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future

At Sumitomo Biorational Company, we’re proud to power a sustainable future through our work. Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been at the core of our culture since the beginning. Today, they continue to drive everything we do.

Join us in making a meaningful impact and contributing to a better world.

  • Sumitomo Biorational Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status.

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