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Fermentation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Spectra Tech, Inc. is hiring for a Fermentation Manager in Memphis, Tennessee Spectra Tech, Inc. is ... Engineering, or a related field. Experience & Qualifications * Experience: 5+ years of hands-on ...

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Spectra Tech, Inc. is hiring for a Fermentation Manager in Memphis, Tennessee Spectra Tech, Inc. is ... Engineering, or a related field. Experience & Qualifications * Experience: 5+ years of hands-on ...

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Scientist (I) Small Scale Fermentation - Proteins, Decatur, IL ADM Research & Development This is ... The scientist will collaborate frequently with strain engineering group, analytical group, enzyme ...

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Fermentation Engineer information

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$41K

$110.7K

$150.5K

How much do fermentation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for fermentation engineer in the United States is $110,663.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,500.00 and $147,500.00 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.

What cities are hiring for Fermentation Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Fermentation Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Fermentation Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Fermentation Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Fermentation Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Fermentation Engineer jobs are:

Infographic showing various Fermentation Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,663 per year, or $53.2 per hour.

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

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Job description

Spectra Tech, Inc. is hiring for a Fermentation Manager in Memphis, Tennessee

Job Description

Spectra Tech, Inc. is seeking a Fermentation Manager to oversee fermentation operations within a food manufacturing environment. In this role, you will manage microbial cultivation processes used to produce high-quality food and beverage products. You will lead a team of technicians, optimize process yields, ensure strict food safety standards, and scale production from pilot to commercial volumes.

Responsibilities
  • Production Oversight: Manage daily fermentation operations, including culture propagation, media preparation, inoculation, and harvest.
  • Process Optimization: Monitor and adjust critical parameters like temperature, pH, agitation, and dissolved oxygen to maximize yield and consistency.
  • Food Safety & Quality: Enforce strict hygiene, aseptic techniques, Clean-in-Place (CIP), and Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) protocols to prevent contamination.
  • Compliance & HACCP: Ensure all operations comply with FDA, USDA, SQF, and HACCP standards for food manufacturing.
  • Team Leadership: Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor fermentation technicians and plant operators.
  • Data & Documentation: Maintain precise batch records, draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and log data in tracking software.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D for product scale-up and Quality Assurance (QA) for final product approval.
Educational Requirements

Preferred - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience & Qualifications
  • Experience: 5+ years of hands-on fermentation experience in a commercial food or beverage manufacturing facility.
  • Leadership: 2+ years of experience in a supervisory or management role on a production floor.
  • Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and food safety regulations.
  • Technical Skills: Experience operating industrial bioreactors, automated control systems (SCADA/PLC), and analytical laboratory equipment.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with food fermentation processes, including precision fermentation, alternative proteins, dairy cultures, or brewing.
  • Active HACCP, PCQI, or SQF Practitioner certifications.

At Spectra Tech, Inc., our recruitment team is powered by real people in real time-personally reviewing every application with care and integrity. We take pride in identifying and recruiting top-tier talent while maintaining full alignment with federal regulations, EEOC standards, and fair hiring practices that reflect our commitment to excellence and equity

Spectra Tech, Inc. is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. We are also an E-verify employer.

Employment Type: Full-Time Employee