ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Fermentation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Gallo

Seasonal Enologist

Healdsburg, CA · On-site

$25/hr

Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Enology, Viticulture, Fermentation Science, Nutritional Science, Food Science Plant Science or ...

E. & J. Gallo

Seasonal Enologist

Healdsburg, CA · On-site

$25/hr

Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Enology, Viticulture, Fermentation Science, Nutritional Science, Food Science Plant Science or ...

Gallo

Seasonal Enologist

Healdsburg, CA · On-site

$25/hr

Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Enology, Viticulture, Fermentation Science, Nutritional Science, Food Science Plant Science or ...

BioMADE

Shift Supervisor

Hayward, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

... with emerging fermentation technologies the ability to demonstrate upstream and downstream ... S. in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biotechnology, or Mechanical Engineering ...

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 Jun 16, 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 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.

How much do fermentation scientists make?

Fermentation scientists, also known as fermentation engineers, typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $60,000 to $90,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Advanced roles or those with specialized skills in bioprocessing or microbiology can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000 annually.

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 does a fermentation engineer do?

A fermentation engineer designs, develops, and optimizes fermentation processes used in producing products like biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and food ingredients. They work with microbiology, biochemistry, and process control tools to ensure efficient and consistent production, often operating in laboratory and manufacturing environments. Strong knowledge of bioreactors, sterile techniques, and quality standards is essential for this role.

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 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.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, and often leadership roles or working in high-paying industries.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial positions, or possessing advanced certifications and expertise in niche areas.
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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, and 40% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $109,213 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, Project A-Life

X: The Moonshot Factory

Mountain View, CA

$143K - $189K/yr

Other

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

S e n i o r S o f t w a r e E n g i n e e r , P r o j e c t A - L i f e
Software Engineering Mountain View, CA (HQ)
About the company
X is a diverse group of inventors and entrepreneurs who build and launch technologies that aim to improve the lives of millions, even billions, of people. Our goal: 10x impact on the world's most intractable problems, not just 10% improvement. We approach projects that have the aspiration and riskiness of research with the speed and ambition of a startup.
About the team
Biological cells are the most sophisticated manufacturing platform on Earth. Many of the world's materials could be made more sustainably through fermentation and renewable feedstocks. However biology is so complex that today, engineering cells to make materials is closer to trial-and-error rather than predictive design. Too many bio-made materials die in the "Valley of Death" gap between a successful experiment in a lab and large-scale commercial fermentation.
At A-Life, we're building the AI toolkit to bridge that gap. We specialize in the "cells that make things," creating the software that allows scientists to engineer biology for real-world performance at scale. We're building for a bioeconomy at scale that's good for people and the planet.
You don't need a biology background to do this, though a science background helps. You just need to be a world-class engineer who is curious and ready to solve insanely hard, physical-world problems. If you want to build the foundational code for the future of manufacturing, we'd love to talk with you. Learn more about Project A-Life here .
About the role
We are looking for a nimble, creative Software Engineer to join our small multidisciplinary team. As an early hire, you won't just be writing tickets. You will be architecting the foundational software that allows AI to interface with complex biological data. You will work directly with our computational biologists and lab scientists to solve hard problems with elegant, scalable software tools.
How you will have 10X impact
  • Architect from scratch: Design and build the core infrastructure of our AI toolkit, ensuring it can handle complex datasets from both lab-scale experiments and industrial bioreactors.
  • Bridge biology and code: Work closely with biologists to understand their workflow and build tools that solve the "Valley of Death" bottleneck.
  • Full-Stack ownership: Take responsibility for everything from data pipelines and backend AI integration to the frontend tools used by cell engineers.
  • Shape the Culture: As an early member of a small team, you will help define our engineering standards, our tech stack, and our company culture.
Who you are
  • A generalist at heart: You are comfortable moving across the stack. You care more about solving the problem than using a specific language or tool.
  • Mission-obsessed: You are energized by the idea of using technology to solve big challenges in climate and biotechnology.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity: You thrive in a "move fast" team environment where the roadmap evolves as we learn.
  • Technically fearless: You aren't intimidated by the prospect of building software for a field as complex and messy as biology.
What you should have
We're looking for scrappy, creative engineers who know best practices but build innovative solutions that are right-sized for an early-stage team.
  • BS/MS in CS or equivalent practical experience
  • Experience with software development for data-heavy scientific applications
  • PhD in CS or a natural science is preferred but not required
  • Startup experience, or equivalent experience on early stage teams
  • 5+ years of experience building software in an enterprise environment
  • Experience with Google Cloud developer tools, including the latest in AI
It'd be great if you also had these
  • People management experience
  • Experience in life-science or bio-tech projects

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $174,000 - $250,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits.
An Equal Opportunity Workplace
At X, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at x-accommodation-request@x.team .

Apply