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Fermentation Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Jobtailor

Senior Fermentation Scientist

Libertyville, IL · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Work with a team of fermentation scientists, downstream process engineers, formulations scientists, microbial engineers and analytical chemists to develop sustainable biorational solutions within the ...

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Fermentation Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$42.3K

$114.1K

$155.2K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for fermentation engineer in Chicago, IL is $114,088.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,300.00 and $152,100.00 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.

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What job categories do people searching Fermentation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Fermentation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Fermentation Engineer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Fermentation Engineer job openings:

Fermentation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,998 per year, or $54.8 per hour.

Senior Fermentation Scientist

Jobtailor

Libertyville, IL • On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

  • Lead internal upstream process development efforts at the Sumitomo Biorational Company Biorational Research Center by conducting fermentation experiments in laboratory- and pilot-scale bioreactors.
  • Evaluate the performance of microbial strain candidates by analysis and interpretation of fermentation data.
  • Work with a team of fermentation scientists, downstream process engineers, formulations scientists, microbial engineers and analytical chemists to develop sustainable biorational solutions within the expanding field of BioAgriculture.
  • Design and implement upstream processes to optimize strain performance of bacterial and fungal microorganisms to produce microbial products, metabolites and proteins.
  • Mentor junior team members by training safe and proper use of fermentation and analytical equipment required to execute process development and improvement experiments.
  • Provide guidance to research associates and support their professional development.
  • Take primary responsibility for the operation and troubleshooting of pilot scale fermentation equipment.
  • Design scale up and scale down experiments to execute seamless technology transfer between Research and Manufacturing operations.
  • Build strong relationships with supporting research departments and deliver fermentations on time or ahead of schedule to biology, downstream processing, formulations, and product development teams.
  • Travel to manufacturing site to launch new fermentation processes and troubleshoot current commercial processes.
  • Maintain and further develop collaborative relationship with the pilot and production fermentation team at the manufacturing site.
  • Execute sophisticated process development experiments utilizing statistical tools to ensure process robustness.
  • Work alongside data scientists, IT, and engineering to build and maintain a digital system to organize and archive run data and electronic batch records.
  • Maintain and update laboratory data and documents including electronic lab notebook and SOPs.
  • Conduct all work in strict compliance with all applicable safety requirements, containment requirements, standards operating procedures and/or guidelines while maintaining a clean and orderly workspace.
  • Work both independently and with interdisciplinary research teams while maintaining a positive and collaborative environment.
Requirements
  • Expertise in culturing microorganisms, including filamentous fungi, to increase metabolite productivity using aseptic techniques
  • Hands‑on experience using lab‑scale or pilot‑scale SIP bioreactor systems for microbial cultivations and metabolite production, particularly with non‑model bacterial and fungal organisms
  • Experience training junior scientists in the use of fermentation equipment and execution of process development experiments
  • High degree of competency in the Microsoft Office 365 suite and statistical analysis software
  • Strong communication, presentation, and listening skills in cross‑functional teams
  • Willingness to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion
  • Able to lift up to 25 lbs
  • Degree in Fermentation Science, Chemical/Biochemical/Biosystems Engineering, or closely related field with industrial fermentation experience (5 years with PhD, 8 years with MS, 12+ years with BS).
Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in upstream process development and fermentation science, with a strong focus on optimizing microbial strain performance and mentoring junior scientists. Proficient in utilizing statistical tools for process robustness and maintaining compliance with safety and operational standards.

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