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Fermentation Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Design and conduct fermentation experiments with both glass and stainless-steel bioreactors, from ... Experience operating lab-scale and/or pilot-scale bioreactors and associated analytical tools.

Downstream Processing Operator

Augusta, GA

$17.75 - $22.50/hr

We are seeking a highly motivated Fermentation Plant Operator. This person will be expected to play an integral part of Manus Bios manufacturing and process development team located in Augusta, GA.

We are seeking a highly motivated Fermentation Plant Operator. This person will be expected to play an integral part of Manus Bio's manufacturing and process development team located in Augusta, GA.

We are seeking a highly motivated Fermentation Plant Operator. This person will be expected to play an integral part of Manus Bio's manufacturing and process development team located in Augusta, GA.

Machine Operator

Newnan, GA ยท On-site

$15.25 - $18.25/hr

Operators will rotate into different modules after completing required training, and are not ... Complete fermentation logs, deviation reports, and sanitation documents * Support material ...

Labeling of fermentation vessel pipes and valves * Participate in safety training programs ... Chemical Operator experience preferred * Preferred confined space, lock out tag out training

Labeling of fermentation vessel pipes and valves * Participate in safety training programs ... Chemical Operator experience preferred * Preferred confined space, lock out tag out training

Operator, Process-DOTH

Headland, AL ยท On-site

$17.25 - $21.75/hr

Follow established fermentation procedures, make adjustments to the processes or processing equipment, manually or through a central processing computer. * Notify lead operator of equipment failures ...

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Fermentation Operator information

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How much do fermentation operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for fermentation operator in the United States is $19.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.07 and $20.43 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the highest paying operator job?

The highest paying operator jobs are often found in specialized fields such as chemical or process plant operators, which require technical skills and certifications. In the context of fermentation, senior or lead fermentation operators with extensive experience and advanced knowledge of fermentation processes tend to earn higher salaries. These roles may also involve supervisory responsibilities and working in high-demand industries like biotech or pharmaceuticals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Fermentation Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Fermentation Operator, you need a solid understanding of microbiology, chemical processes, and production protocols, typically supported by a high school diploma or associate degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with fermentation equipment, process control systems (like SCADA), and adherence to safety and quality standards (such as GMP) is essential. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork skills help operators monitor processes and respond quickly to anomalies. These competencies ensure efficient, safe, and high-quality production in food, beverage, or pharmaceutical fermentation environments.

What does a fermentation operator do?

A fermentation operator is responsible for overseeing the fermentation process in manufacturing, ensuring that microbial activity occurs under controlled conditions to produce products like alcohol, biofuels, or food ingredients. They monitor equipment, adjust parameters such as temperature and pH, and follow safety and quality protocols, often working with fermentation tanks and using process control systems.

What are some common challenges faced by Fermentation Operators, and how can they be addressed on the job?

Fermentation Operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining optimal environmental conditions (temperature, pH, oxygen levels) and quickly troubleshooting equipment malfunctions or deviations in the process. Addressing these issues requires strong attention to detail, effective communication with quality and maintenance teams, and adherence to standard operating procedures. Staying proactive with regular equipment checks and being prepared to adapt to changing production demands can help operators maintain smooth and efficient operations.

What is the difference between Fermentation Operator vs Quality Control Technician?

AspectFermentation OperatorQuality Control Technician
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require technical certificationsHigh school diploma; often requires certifications in lab testing or quality assurance
Work EnvironmentManufacturing or production facility, working with fermentation tanks and equipmentLaboratory or production environment, performing testing and inspections
Industry UsageCommon in brewing, biotech, and food industriesUsed across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and biotech sectors
Job FocusOperating fermentation equipment, monitoring processesTesting samples, ensuring product quality and compliance

While both roles are essential in fermentation-related industries, the Fermentation Operator primarily manages the fermentation process and equipment operation. In contrast, the Quality Control Technician focuses on testing and ensuring the quality of the final product. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and employer expectations in the industry.

What is a Fermentation Operator?

A Fermentation Operator is a professional responsible for overseeing and managing the fermentation process in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, or biofuels. They monitor fermentation tanks, measure ingredients, control temperature and pH levels, and ensure that microorganisms grow in optimal conditions to produce the desired product. Their work is crucial for maintaining product quality, safety, and efficiency in large-scale production environments.

What jobs pay 2000 a day?

Most jobs that pay around $2,000 a day are high-level positions such as specialized surgeons, senior corporate executives, or certain highly skilled consultants. These roles typically require advanced education, extensive experience, and often involve demanding schedules or certifications. For example, some freelance consultants or contractors in niche industries can reach this level of daily pay.
More about Fermentation Operator jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Fermentation Operator jobs? The most popular types of Fermentation Operator jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Fermentation Operator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Fermentation Operator jobs are:
Infographic showing various Fermentation Operator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 98% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,702 per year, or $19.1 per hour.
Production Microbiologist - Fermentation Biotechnology / Molecular Biology

Production Microbiologist - Fermentation Biotechnology / Molecular Biology

Primient

Loudon, TN โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Production Microbiologist - Fermentation Biotechnology / Molecular Biology | Primient
About Primient
Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We are a privately held company with locations across the US, Mexico, Poland, and Brazil. We're investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we're focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate.
Key Responsibilities
Microbiology & Cell Culture Operations
  • Lead daily microbiology laboratory activities supporting commercial fermentation operations, including aseptic inoculation, propagation, and maintenance of bacterial cultures.
  • Prepare and sterilize fermentation media, buffers, and process solutions.
  • Perform microbial plating, contamination monitoring, Gram staining, microscopy, and morphology tracking.
  • Develop and improve contamination detection workflows for bacterial, fungal, and bacteriophage identification in process streams and environmental samples.
  • Maintain microbial culture collections, master cell banks, and working cell banks with validated traceability systems and electronic inventory management.
  • Design and execute microbial engineering strategies to improve strain robustness, productivity, metabolic performance, and process consistency in industrial fermentation applications.

Molecular Biology & Analytical Development
  • Support development and optimization of molecular and biochemical assays including rt-PCR, ELISA, and other rapid diagnostic methods.
  • Operate, troubleshoot, calibrate, and maintain analytical instrumentation including HPLC, carbohydrate analyzers, balances, shakers, and related laboratory equipment.
  • Analyze fermentation and analytical datasets using statistical and data visualization tools to identify process trends and continuous improvement opportunities.
  • Contribute to experimental design, DOE studies, root cause investigations, and technical reports.

Continuous Improvement
  • Identify continuous improvement opportunities focused on improving process efficiency, contamination reduction, uptime, cost reduction, and operational stability.
  • Collaborate with other laboratory personnel and provide technical guidance on aseptic techniques, microbial operations, analytical methods, and data interpretation.
  • Maintain and improve SOPs, batch records, and laboratory documentation systems in compliance with site and quality requirements.
  • Provide on call technical support and troubleshooting for critical fermentation and microbiology operations as needed.

Fermentation Process Development
  • Collaborate closely with the R&D Manager to execute and support fermentation process development initiatives focused on improving productivity, titer, yield, process robustness, and manufacturing reliability.
  • Assist in execution, monitoring, and documentation of 15L fed batch aerobic fermentation experiments designed by the R&D Manager and broader Manufacturing Technology team.
  • Support fermentation optimization activities
  • Work alongside Operations, Engineering, and the R&D Manager to troubleshoot fermentation process deviations, contamination events, and operational performance issues.
  • Support scale-up and scale-down process evaluation efforts through laboratory experimentation, data collection, and process observation.
  • Assist with update, implementation, and maintenance of process monitoring systems, historical data review, and automation tools used in fermentation operations.
  • Contribute technical observations and recommendations during experimental reviews, process investigations, and continuous improvement discussions.
  • Support development of standardized fermentation practices, process documentation, and knowledge transfer across R&D and manufacturing teams.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or PhD in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline.
  • 3+ years of experience in industrial biotechnology, fermentation process development, microbiology, or bioprocess R&D in a laboratory, manufacturing or pilot plant environment.
  • Demonstrated experience operating and troubleshooting microbial growth systems, ideally fed-batch aerobic bacterial fermentations.
  • Fundamental understanding of fermentation scale-up principles, process control strategies, and bioprocess analytics.
  • Experience with molecular biology and contamination detection techniques including PCR, ELISA, and microbial identification methods.
  • Strong analytical, statistical, and technical problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate laboratory documentation, experimental records, and electronic data systems with strong attention to detail and data integrity.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
  • Ability to translate scientific and process-related information into clear, actionable communication for personnel across multiple functional and experience levels.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and support 24/7 operations when required.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work safely around pilot and manufacturing equipment.

Total Rewards
The annual pay range estimated for this position is $78,030.40 - $97,538.00 and is bonus eligible.
Please note that while this range reflects the full spectrum of compensation available for this role, individual compensation will be determined based on several factors including your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. During the interview process there will be an opportunity to discuss how your background fits into the pay range.
We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
  • Competitive Pay
  • Multiple Healthcare plan choices
  • Dental and vision insurance
  • A 401(k) plan with company and matching contributions
  • Short- and Long-Term Disability
  • Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Insurance plans
  • Paid holidays & vacation
  • Floating days off
  • Parental leave for new parents
  • Employee resource groups
  • Learning & development programs
  • Fun culture where you have an opportunity in shaping our future

Career Path & Culture
Primient is committed to a workplace that is all in - ensuring everyone has the opportunity to develop and shape a career that matters in an open culture which embraces equity, diversity and belonging. We challenge old ways of thinking; and encourage employee voices to be a guiding force for ongoing learning.
Primient supports a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences make better decisions, drive excellence, and deliver better business results. Primient employees experience autonomy and accountability in their role. Here, employees control their destiny as there is opportunity for career growth and pathways outside the norm.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
We are believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow,
Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.
California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")
The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.