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Fermentation Engineer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

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Fermentation Engineer information

See Colorado salary details

$43.1K

$116.4K

$158.3K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for fermentation engineer in Colorado is $116,364.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,200.00 and $155,100.00 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 engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as petroleum, aerospace, or software engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and relevant certifications. Leadership roles like engineering managers or directors in high-demand industries can also reach or exceed this salary level.

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 to produce products such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, or food ingredients. They work with microbiology, biochemistry, and process control tools to ensure efficient and consistent production, often operating in laboratory or manufacturing environments and requiring knowledge of sterile techniques and process monitoring.

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 or executive positions, or possessing rare technical expertise and certifications.
What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in Colorado? For Fermentation Engineer jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Fermentation Engineer jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Fermentation Engineer jobs in Colorado are:
What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in CO? For Fermentation Engineer jobs in CO, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in Colorado as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $116,364 per year, or $55.9 per hour.
Process Development Associate I - Downstream

Process Development Associate I - Downstream

KBI Biopharma, Inc.

Boulder, CO

$55K - $75K/yr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

Position Summary:
This position resides in the Process Operations team in the Process Development department and drives robustness and consistency in the laboratory through execution and innovation of laboratory practices. They drive efficiencies in Process Development while maintaining ownership of the laboratory and systems. They will have the responsibility of being operations leads on projects with increasing ownership and collaboration within the department. Through defined roles and responsibilities, the process operations team will be subject matter experts (SMEs) on both the execution of processes as well as the systems in the laboratory.

The Process Development Associate supports and executes laboratory studies
within the KBI Process Development organization at KBI under general supervision.

The Process Development Associate is able to execute lab work, with
documentation and reporting that is consistent with Process Development
compliance and Quality standards. The Process Development Associate is able to author basic operational documents for routine unit operations within the laboratory organization. The Process Development Associate is capable of executing lab studies from written documents and applies standard scientific approaches to solving technical problems. The Process Development Associate may serve as the point of contact for a specific laboratory project. The Process Development Associate works under the general supervision of laboratory management with work reviewed for soundness and accuracy.

The Process Development Associate will have a basic understanding of Process Development methods/unit operations as well as scientific principles in order to execute lab studies. The Process Development Associate will have the ability to execute laboratory experiments from written/verbal instruction. Basic technical writing and communication skills are desired. Basic understanding of laboratory equipment and equipment maintenance are required. The Process Development Associate participates in process development meetings and technical investigations if needed.

Experience in various stirred tank fermentations (single-use and stainless),
chromatography, precipitation, and filtration methods are highly preferred.

The Process Development Associate will assist in the evaluation, development and implementation of new technologies leading to process improvements and efficiency of operations. The Process Development Associate will identify and implement continuous operation improvement ideas as a major part of this role.


The Process Development Associate will be responsible for maintaining training
compliance, according to site expectations.


Position Responsibilities:

  • Conducts laboratory experiments in support of process development including preparing solutions, running unit operations (fermentation, homogenization, clarification, filtration, chromatography, etc.), and executing basic analysis of process samples (absorbance, solids content, plating, pH, conductivity, metabolites, etc.). Documents these procedures, observations, and results in electronic laboratory notebooks.
  • Normally exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action (sometimes called upon to exercise judgment outside of defined procedures).
  • Makes detailed observations about experimental deviations from the expectations and carries out elementary analysis of the data to determine data that should be rejected as a result of exceptional laboratory conditions.
  • Understands experiments and conducts troubleshooting analysis.
  • Maintains and updates knowledge of instrumentation and maintenance. Schedules periodic maintenance for laboratory equipment.
  • Assures proper labeling, handling, and storage of all chemicals used in the area; assures proper labeling and disposition of hazardous waste in satellite areas; adheres to all safety requirements and follows safe procedures, and attends all required safety and health training, including handling hazardous waste.
  • Able to react to change productively and handle other essential tasks as assigned.


Minimum Requirements:
B.S. degree in microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, or related area (with equivalent training).A.S./B.S. and 0+ years of related experience.

Salary:

Process Development Associate I: $55,000-$75,900

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.

I understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for KBI Biopharma, Inc. to hire me. If I am hired, I understand that either KBI Biopharma, Inc. or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of KBI Biopharma, Inc. has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

I attest with my signature below that I have given to KBI Biopharma, Inc. true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize KBI Biopharma, Inc. to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.