ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Fermentation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Oath

Fermentation Scientist

Vacaville, CA · On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

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 ...

Oath

Fermentation Scientist

Vacaville, CA · Hybrid

$100K - $130K/yr

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 ...

BioMADE

Process Engineer

Hayward, CA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

The Process Engineer is responsible for translating customer fermentation and downstream process requirements into operational procedures, batch documentation, and technical guidance that enable the ...

Debut Biotech

Staff Process Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Staff Process Engineer Summary The Staff Process Engineer, Downstream Processing (DSP) will take a ... Develop downstream purification processes for fermentation-derived products, from bench scale ...

Debut Biotech

Staff Process Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Staff Process Engineer Summary The Staff Process Engineer, Downstream Processing (DSP) will take a ... Develop downstream purification processes for fermentation-derived products, from bench scale ...

Piper Maddox

Process Engineer

Calipatria, CA · On-site

Process Engineer - Calipatria CA Piper Maddox is partnering with an exciting biotechnology energy ... algae, fermentation, food/feed, or comparable bio-based manufacturing * Genuinely hands-on ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsFermentation Engineer JobsFermentation Engineer Jobs in California

Fermentation Engineer information

See California salary details

$40.5K

$109.2K

$148.5K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for fermentation engineer in California is $109,213.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,300.00 and $145,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a fermentation engineer do?

A fermentation engineer uses state-of-the-art technologies to formulate new products and refine the processes used in existing ones. Your responsibilities in this career include setting up and testing a process involving a microorganism, such as a yeast or a bacterium, in a fermentor to create new products. You use biotechnology techniques like recombinant DNA technology. Your duties also involve operating sophisticated equipment, such as bioreactors or robots. You can find employment in a wide range of industries, from food production to agriculture to medical science.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fermentation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fermentation Engineer, you need a solid background in bioprocess engineering, microbiology, and chemical engineering, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with fermentation control systems, bioreactor operation, and analytical laboratory tools is typically required. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills help you optimize processes and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital to ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality fermentation processes in industries like biotech, food, and pharmaceuticals.

What are the most common challenges faced by fermentation engineers in scaling up processes from lab to production?

Fermentation Engineers often encounter challenges when scaling up processes from laboratory to industrial scale, such as maintaining consistent product yields, ensuring robust microbial performance, and managing contamination risks. Differences in equipment, mixing, oxygen transfer, and temperature control can significantly impact the reproducibility and efficiency of fermentation. To address these challenges, engineers work closely with cross-functional teams, including microbiologists, process engineers, and quality assurance, to optimize protocols and implement rigorous monitoring systems throughout scale-up.

What is the difference between Fermentation Engineer vs Microbiologist?

AspectFermentation EngineerMicrobiologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field; experience in fermentation processesBachelor's or higher in Microbiology, Biology, or related field; laboratory skills
Work EnvironmentIndustrial labs, manufacturing plants, R&D facilitiesResearch labs, clinical labs, academic institutions
Industry UsageBiotech, pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, biofuel productionHealthcare, research, environmental studies, food safety

Fermentation Engineers focus on designing, optimizing, and scaling fermentation processes in industrial settings, while Microbiologists primarily conduct research and analysis of microorganisms in laboratory environments. Both roles require a strong background in microbiology, but Fermentation Engineers emphasize process engineering and production, whereas Microbiologists focus on scientific study and experimentation.

More about Fermentation Engineer jobs

What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in California?

For Fermentation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Fermentation Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Fermentation Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Fermentation Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Fermentation Engineer job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in CA?

For Fermentation Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Fermentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,213 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Fermentation Scientist

Oath

Vacaville, CA • On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

About Oath:
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 GoogleSuite, 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
Benefits:
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Stock options

Apply