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Fermentation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Synthetic Biologist - Research Scientist

Livermore, CA · On-site

$146K - $185K/yr

  • Retirement

... engineering in E. coli or non-model microbes. * Familiarity with protein characterization techniques, chromatography, or biochemical assays. * Experience with fermentation, microbial process ...

Synthetic Biologist - Research Scientist

Livermore, CA · On-site

$146K - $185K/yr

  • Retirement

... engineering in E. coli or non-model microbes. * Familiarity with protein characterization techniques, chromatography, or biochemical assays. * Experience with fermentation, microbial process ...

... engineering in E. coli or non-model microbes. * Familiarity with protein characterization techniques, chromatography, or biochemical assays. * Experience with fermentation, microbial process ...

Director, CMC-Drug Substance

San Diego, CA · On-site

$165K - $190K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Provide deep expertise in biologics manufacturing platforms (e.g., CHO cell systems, fermentation ... Masters Degree and/or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related field is ...

QA Operations Supervisor

San Diego, CA · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

... cell culture, fermentation, harvest, purification, and bulk drug substance. This role provides ... Partner with Manufacturing, Quality Control, Validation, Facilities, Engineering, Supply Chain, and ...

New

Account Manager - Personal Care

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$118K - $177K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Minimum Qualifications BS/BA degree in engineering, chemistry, biology or related 2 years' experience working in Pharmaceutical or Personal Care manufacturing, or Brewing/Fermentation Clean In Place ...

New

Account Manager - Personal Care

Los Angeles, CA

$118K - $177K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Minimum Qualifications * BS/BA degree in engineering, chemistry, biology or related * 2 years' experience working in Pharmaceutical or Personal Care manufacturing, or Brewing/Fermentation * Clean In ...

New

Account Manager - Personal Care

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$118K - $177K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Minimum Qualifications * BS/BA degree in engineering, chemistry, biology or related * 2 years' experience working in Pharmaceutical or Personal Care manufacturing, or Brewing/Fermentation * Clean In ...

New

Account Manager - Personal Care

San Diego, CA · On-site

$118K - $177K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Minimum Qualifications * BS/BA degree in engineering, chemistry, biology or related * 2 years' experience working in Pharmaceutical or Personal Care manufacturing, or Brewing/Fermentation * Clean In ...

New

Showing results 41-60

Fermentation Engineer information

See California salary details

$40.5K

$109.2K

$148.5K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 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.

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 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 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 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:

Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% 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.

Senior Manager, Commercial MSAT, Polysaccharide

Vaxcyte

San Carlos, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

Summary:

The Senior Manager, Commercial MSAT for Polysaccharides will lead and facilitate launch readiness and commercial supply of the polysaccharides used in glycoconjugate vaccines. This role focuses on technical launch planning and execution by bringing best practices and coordinating cross-functional efforts for regulatory filings, facility readiness, and launch supplies.

This role also provides leadership to ensure that the organization is equipped to effectively communicate the scientific and commercial rationale for critical raw material manufacturing processes to internal stakeholders, relevant CMOs, and to regulatory agencies. The incumbent will work with the organization to ensure on-time execution and appropriate planning for commercial lifecycle management.

This position will be reporting to the Director, Commercial MSAT for Polysaccharides. The Senior Manager will collaborate on overall program strategy, with primary responsibility and accountability for the polysaccharide drug substance intermediate. 

Manufacturing Science and Technology (MSAT) is responsible for successfully and seamlessly transitioning the vaccine process from Process Development to Commercial, developing and executing technical launch and commercialization strategy, continuously improving process robustness through to end of lifecycle, and ensuring best possible patient outcomes while creating value for the enterprise. As part of the Technical Operations organization, MSAT will lead the technical and process support for end-to-end commercial manufacturing, including Polysaccharides, Carrier Proteins, and Conjugation across all Drug Substances (DS). The range of activities will include technology transfer support, process characterization experiments in support of validation, process improvement, evaluation of novel process technologies, investigation of process related manufacturing issues, ensuring continuous improvement in process robustness throughout the product life cycle, etc. 

Essential Functions:
  • DS Commercialization - Provide strategic and scientific leadership for polysaccharides with internal and external stakeholders and ensure successful execution of launch plans and post-launch commercial activities.
  • Organization - Build a strong and highly-skilled team for the global network with special focus on polysaccharide manufacturing processes. Support resourcing recommendations on staffing requirements to meet organizational goals.
  • Process robustness - Continuously improve process understanding and process robustness using staff and laboratory resources across the organization to monitor, trend, and optimize operations.
  • Interface - Collaboration with cross-functional teams across the network, including Regulatory, CMC, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Process Engineering, to drive the successful development and commercial launch of carrier proteins for pipeline products.
  • Tech-transfer new technologies - Ensure robust processes exist to support technical transfers and integration of new technologies.
  • Support technical services - Support of our internal and external manufacturing network, including materials management and data analytics.
  • Process validation and comparability - Provide leadership for the execution of process validation and process comparability activities. Effectively communicate the scientific and commercial rationale for polysaccharide processes to the Manufacturing organization for commercialization
  • Regulatory - Engage In technical reviewing and authoring of regulatory filings and responding to questions received from health authorities. Effectively communicate the scientific and commercial rationale for polysaccharide processes to the Boards of Health for regulatory submissions for commercialization.
  • Communicate - Effectively and efficiently communicate process performance to key stakeholders (internal-facing and external-facing). Connect and build strong working relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
  • Leadership - Contribute as a member of the polysaccharide governance teams, with an aim to ensure effective and efficient delivery of our life-enhancing therapies to our patients.
  • Travel - 10-30% travel required.
Requirements: 
  • Degree(s) in Chemical or Biochemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience for Ph.D., 8+ years for M.S./M.A., or 12+ years for B.S./B.A.
  • Experience in development, tech transfer, scale-up or production of polysaccharide/protein conjugate vaccines
  • Extensive experience in biologic production processes, including bacterial fermentation, recovery, and purification across multiple operational scales.
  • Experience in MSAT or Process Development in matrixed team roles.
  • Able to leverage deep technical knowledge in a collaborative manner to establish strategic plans and achieve collective goals.
  • Excellent organization, problem solving and strategic planning skills.
  • Highly skilled in both verbal and written communication with the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
  • Proactively recognizes needs and potential challenges, and directs activities to implement effective solutions.
  • The ability to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.
  • Experience with Raman spectroscopy and off-gas analyzers, and their application to process monitoring and manufacturing operations is desirable.
  • Experience with data visualization tools and techniques to support analysis, trending, and decision-making is desirable.
  • An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.
Reports to: Director, MSAT Polysaccharides
 
Location: San Carlos, CA or Remote
 
Work Arrangement: Remote
 
Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.
 
Salary Range: $165,000 - $193,000 (SF Bay Area). Salary ranges for non-California locations may vary.
 

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About Vaxcyte

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Biotechnology research and development

Company size

51 - 200 Employees

Headquarters location

San Carlos, CA, US

Year founded

2013