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Senior Fermentation Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking a Fermentation Engineer II or Senior Fermentation Engineer to be a part of our process development team. This role focuses on fermentation science and development to bring new ...

We are seeking a Fermentation Engineer II or Senior Fermentation Engineer to be a part of our process development team. This role focuses on fermentation science and development to bring new ...

We are seeking a Fermentation Engineer II or Senior Fermentation Engineer to be a part of our process development team. This role focuses on fermentation science and development to bring new ...

Senior Scientist

Lincoln, NE ยท On-site

$79K - $123K/yr

Senior Scientist, Research & Development Location: Lincoln, Nebraska (Onsite) Schedule: Monday ... Experience with fermentation, bioreactors, upstream processing, downstream processing, and ...

Senior Scientist, Research & Development Location: Lincoln, Nebraska (Onsite) Schedule: Monday ... Experience with fermentation, bioreactors, upstream processing, downstream processing, and ...

SR FLAVOR SCIENTIST

Chico, CA ยท On-site

$105K - $162K/yr

Get to Know This Role The Sr Flavor Scientist is an individual contributor who leads beverage ... Fermentation Science, Microbiology, Biology, or related field) required * 7 years of product ...

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Senior Fermentation Scientist information

See salary details

$66.5K

$110.5K

$164.5K

How much do senior fermentation scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior fermentation scientist in the United States is $110,545.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,500.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior fermentation scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Fermentation Scientist, you need a strong background in microbiology, biochemistry, and fermentation process development, typically supported by a relevant advanced degree (e.g., MSc or PhD). Experience with bioreactor systems, analytical instrumentation (such as HPLC or GC), and familiarity with industry-standard software and regulatory practices are important. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help in managing projects, guiding teams, and collaborating across departments. These skills are crucial for optimizing fermentation processes, ensuring product quality, and driving innovation in competitive industrial and research environments.

What is the difference between Senior Fermentation Scientist vs Fermentation Technician?

AspectSenior Fermentation Scientist
QualificationsBachelor's or Master's in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field; extensive experience in fermentation research
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, R&D departments, biotech companies
ResponsibilitiesDesigning experiments, analyzing data, developing fermentation processes, overseeing projects
FocusInnovation, process optimization, scientific research

The Senior Fermentation Scientist typically holds advanced degrees and leads research projects, focusing on process development and innovation. In contrast, a Fermentation Technician performs routine fermentation operations, monitoring processes, and maintaining equipment. The roles differ mainly in scope, expertise, and responsibilities, with the Senior Fermentation Scientist playing a strategic research role and the technician executing day-to-day tasks.

What opportunities for cross-functional collaboration can a senior fermentation scientist expect in their daily work?

As a Senior Fermentation Scientist, you will frequently collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams including microbiologists, process engineers, quality assurance specialists, and product development teams. This collaboration is crucial for scaling up fermentation processes, troubleshooting production challenges, and ensuring product consistency. You may also work closely with R&D and manufacturing departments to transfer lab-scale findings to pilot or full-scale operations, providing technical expertise and guidance throughout the process. Such teamwork not only enhances project outcomes but also offers valuable opportunities for professional growth and learning from diverse experts within the organization.

What does a senior fermentation scientist do?

A Senior Fermentation Scientist is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing fermentation processes used in industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and food production. They lead research projects, supervise junior staff, and analyze experimental data to improve yield, efficiency, and quality of fermented products. Additionally, they collaborate with cross-functional teams to scale up laboratory processes to industrial production. Their expertise is crucial in troubleshooting issues and implementing new technologies in fermentation.
More about Senior Fermentation Scientist jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Fermentation Scientist jobs? Cities with the most Senior Fermentation Scientist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Fermentation Scientist jobs? The most popular types of Fermentation Scientist jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Fermentation Scientist jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Fermentation Scientist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Senior Fermentation Scientist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $110,545 per year, or $53.1 per hour.

Senior Fermentation Scientist - Sumitomo Biorational Company

Sumitomo Chemical Group Companies of America

Libertyville, IL โ€ข On-site

$124K - $145K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

About Sumitomo Biorational Company:
Headquartered in Libertyville, Ill., Sumitomo Biorational Company is the Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation, advancing integrated, science-driven solutions in agriculture, public health, forest health, and environmental markets. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Biorational operates through three divisions: AgroSolutions, Environmental Health (MGK), and Public Health & Forest Health, leveraging decades of expertise to drive innovation and sustainability for customers worldwide.

Description of Job: 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.

Principal Responsibilities:

  • 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

Required skills/experience:

  • 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

Education: 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).

Travel: Limited travel will be required. (<5%)

What We Offer

We recognize that compensation and benefits play a crucial role in your career decisions. That’s why we’re dedicated to equitable pay practices and transparency in how we reward our employees.

Base Salary: The estimated annual base salary for this position ranges from:

$124,000 to $145,000. Individual pay is based upon location, skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

Incentives: All full-time employees are eligible for an incentive program or profit-sharing program in addition to their base salary.

Benefits:

  • High-quality healthcare coverage starting on day one, with options for medical (HSA/HRA), vision, and dental plans
  • 5% company contribution to your 401(k), plus a quarterly discretionary bonus
  • Immediate 100% vesting of all retirement contributions
  • Financial assistance programs to support your goals
  • Life and disability insurance for added security
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and volunteer days

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future

At Sumitomo Biorational Company, we’re proud to power a sustainable future through our work. Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have been at the core of our culture since the beginning. Today, they continue to drive everything we do.

Join us in making a meaningful impact and contributing to a better world.

  • Sumitomo Biorational Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status.

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