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Fermentation Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

AA2IT

Engineer II

Elkton, VA · On-site

Required-BS in Chemical, Biochemical or Mechanical Engineering. 2-4 yrs+ Experience (Some Co-op ... Comfortable in lab setting/Fermentation knowledge.

AA2IT

Engineer II

Elkton, VA · On-site

Required-BS in Chemical, Biochemical or Mechanical Engineering. 2-4 yrs+ Experience (Some Co-op ... Comfortable in lab setting/Fermentation knowledge.

AA2IT

Engineer I - Upstream

Elkton, VA · On-site

$37/hr

... Engineering Required Experience and Skills • Proficiency with technical writing and laboratory ... of yeast fermentation and metabolism • Experience working in GMP and GLP environments • ...

AA2IT

Engineer I - Upstream

Elkton, VA · On-site

$37/hr

... Engineering Required Experience and Skills • Proficiency with technical writing and laboratory ... of yeast fermentation and metabolism • Experience working in GMP and GLP environments • ...

AA2IT

Protein Engineer I , II

Elkton, VA · On-site

$34/hr

... Engineering. Open to higher degrees Required Experience and Skills * Experience working with ... Participate in/drive fermentation and/or purification of proteins/VLPs at lab and pilot scale

AA2IT

Protein Engineer I , II

Elkton, VA · On-site

$34/hr

... Engineering. Open to higher degrees Required Experience and Skills * Experience working with ... Participate in/drive fermentation and/or purification of proteins/VLPs at lab and pilot scale

Alfa Laval

Job Page CTA Left

Richmond, VA · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a technically strong and commercially minded Sales Engineer to grow ... fermentation, food, and other process industries. This is a hybrid on-site role based in Houston ...

Alfa Laval

Job Page CTA Left

Richmond, VA · On-site

... fermentation-based therapeutics, and sterile drug manufacturing. * Monitor industry trends ... Collaborate across Sales, BU teams, Engineering, and Service to ensure unified customer engagement ...

All JobsFermentation Engineer JobsFermentation Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Fermentation Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$40.6K

$109.7K

$149.2K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for fermentation engineer in Virginia is $109,713.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,700.00 and $146,200.00 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.

More about Fermentation Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Fermentation Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Fermentation Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Fermentation Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What are popular job titles related to Fermentation Engineer jobs in VA? For Fermentation Engineer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Fermentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,713 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Engineer II

AA2IT

Elkton, VA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Job Title

Job Description

Qualifications:

Required-BS in Chemical, Biochemical or Mechanical Engineering. 2-4 yrs+ Experience (Some Co-op/internship experience acceptable but required 1+yr real world). Proficient with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Power Point, Word, and Excel. Preferred experience with DeltaV, PI data historian, SBOL.

General lab experience (how to be functional/comfortable in lab environment) with additional knowledge in fermentation and/or cell culture for purpose of virus or recombinant protein production is required. Preferred experience with SOP and technical document writing. Relevant experience in a cGMP environment preferred, relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry preferred. Flexibility with the Shift work.

Responsibilities:

Process development activities for a vaccines related drug substance intermediate. The candidate will have the opportunity to participate in/drive fermentation process development of proteins at lab and pilot scales: design and trouble shoot experiments, analyze data and present the findings to the team in the form of presentations. The candidate will also have the opportunity to author technical documents and SOPs and work with customers at manufacturing scale. Candidate will be part of a dynamic cross-matrix team of scientists and engineers.

Comments/Special Instructions:

Fully on-site position w/occasional shift work. Comfortable with Shift work... 6-2am, 2p-10p, 10-6am. 1 Week Shifts and then 1 week day shift (analyzation week), then back to shift week. Comfortable in lab setting/Fermentation knowledge.

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