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Senior Metabolic Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior AI Engineer

$200K - $220K/yr

Twin Health At Twin Health, we empower people to improve and prevent chronic metabolic diseases ... Opportunity We are seeking a Senior AI Engineer to join our Core AI team of AI Engineers and Data ...

Twin Health At Twin Health, we empower people to improve and prevent chronic metabolic diseases ... We are seeking a dynamic and innovative ML Ops Engineer. The ideal candidate is self-driven ...

Senior Marketing Analyst

$104K - $129K/yr

Twin Health At Twin Health, we empower people to improve and prevent chronic metabolic diseases ... You will partner closely with channel owners, data engineering, finance, and product to align on ...

Senior Fullstack Engineer Location: San Francisco, CA (5 days/week onsite) Salary Band: $230,000 ... Mochi has already helped patients lose over 5 million pounds through metabolic care, and we are now ...

Mochi has already helped patients lose over 5 million pounds through metabolic care, and we are now ... engineers with incoming Senior and Staff-level talent to build our next generation of clinical ...

Senior Platform Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$123K - $169K/yr

... metabolic disease, and biomanufacturing. We're looking for engineers who are excited about building ... The Role We're seeking a Senior Platform Engineer to join our growing team in San Francisco. You'll ...

Senior Fullstack Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

... metabolic disease, and biomanufacturing. We're looking for engineers who are excited about building ... The Role We're seeking a Senior Fullstack Engineer to join our growing team in San Francisco. You ...

... metabolic-related diseases. At Nestle Health Science, we bring our best for better lives. Our ... Reporting to the Senior Manager, Facilities, Engineering and Validation, the Senior Validation ...

Senior Engineering Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$225K - $262K/yr

Allara is hiring a Senior Engineering Manager to lead and grow a team of engineers building the technology that powers expert, longitudinal care for women's hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive ...

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Senior Metabolic Engineer information

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$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior metabolic engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior metabolic engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Metabolic Engineer vs Metabolic Engineer?

AspectSenior Metabolic EngineerMetabolic Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, or related; experience preferredBachelor's or higher in related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, biotech companies, pharmaceutical firmsResearch and development, biotech startups, academia
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in biotech, pharma, and research institutions for advanced projectsCommon in biotech and research settings for foundational work

The main difference between a Senior Metabolic Engineer and a Metabolic Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. Senior roles typically involve leading projects, mentoring, and advanced problem-solving, while Metabolic Engineers focus on executing experiments and supporting research. Both roles are vital in biotech and pharmaceutical industries, but the senior position requires more expertise and leadership experience.

What is a Senior Metabolic Engineer?

A Senior Metabolic Engineer is a highly skilled professional who designs, optimizes, and manipulates the metabolic pathways of microorganisms or cells to produce desired compounds, such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, or specialty chemicals. They use advanced techniques in genetic engineering, systems biology, and computational modeling to improve the efficiency and yield of biological production processes. Senior Metabolic Engineers often lead research projects, mentor junior scientists, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges in biotechnology or industrial microbiology.

What are some of the main challenges Senior Metabolic Engineers face when scaling up laboratory successes to industrial production?

One of the key challenges for Senior Metabolic Engineers is ensuring that metabolic pathways optimized in the lab remain robust and efficient at industrial scales. Factors such as changes in oxygen transfer, nutrient gradients, and bioreactor conditions can significantly affect organism performance. Additionally, addressing issues like byproduct accumulation, strain stability, and process economics is crucial for successful scale-up. Collaborating closely with process engineers, bioprocess technicians, and quality control teams is essential to troubleshoot and optimize these transitions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Metabolic Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Metabolic Engineer, you need advanced knowledge in metabolic engineering, biochemical pathways, and molecular biology, typically supported by a Ph.D. or Master's degree in a related field. Familiarity with tools such as metabolic modeling software (e.g., COBRApy), genetic engineering techniques, and analytical instruments like HPLC or GC-MS is crucial. Strong problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication help distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are vital for designing, optimizing, and scaling biological systems to achieve innovative and commercially viable solutions.
More about Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Metabolic Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Metabolic Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Metabolic Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Metabolic Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Senior Metabolic Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Full Time, and 94% Part Time. Highlights an 75% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.
Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer

Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel, MD • On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.9

Company rating: 9.9 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 58 rated research


Job description

Description
Do you marvel at the complexity of metabolism and seek to leverage natural metabolisms in creative ways to develop new technologies?
Do you want to apply your expertise in biomanufacturing process engineering to pressing National Security challenges?
Do you love contributing your microbial metabolic engineering and downstream processing subject matter expertise to an interdisciplinary team of scientists, focused on developing novel applications?
If you answered yes to these questions, we're looking for someone like you to join our team in the Biological Sciences Group, here at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab.
We are seeking a highly motivated metabolic and bioprocess engineer to contribute to a team focused on engineering microbial metabolic pathways and optimizing biomanufacturing processes, including upstream and downstream processing. As part of the Biological Sciences Group, in the Research Exploratory Development Department, you will be at the forefront of APL's mission to provide impactful contributions to critical challenges. You will contribute to building outstanding expertise in molecular biology, in the pursuit of challenges in national security.
As a Senior Metabolic & Biomanufacturing Process Engineer...
  • Design, implement, and characterize recombinant metabolic pathways in microbial organisms.
  • Design, implement, and optimize biomanufacturing processes.
  • Lead projects and teams for both internally funded and externally funded efforts in the research areas mentioned above.
  • Support new business development activities to expand program scope within the Research and Exploratory Development Department and other business areas across APL, including concept development, proposal writing, and project execution.
  • Work with a technical team providing leadership in the development of new opportunities and support internal initiatives, driving technical innovation and growth in areas relevant to APL sponsors.
  • Participate in the broader APL community by presenting data to interdisciplinary groups and to department management.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external sponsors.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have a PhD in Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology or a similar field.
  • Have extensive wet lab experience manipulating the metabolism of microbes and in scaling metabolite synthesis and downstream processing.
  • Have 2+ years experience with analytical chemistry techniques and equipment including: HPLC, GC/MS, or LC/MS.
  • Are proficient in molecular biology techniques, including DNA manipulation and plasmid construction, qPCR, protein analysis, plate-reader assay development, microscopy techniques, and microbial cell culture.
  • Have experience designing, executing, and troubleshooting a wide range of biological assays.
  • Possess strong leadership skills, including excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated through a combination of publication record, teaching, and professional experience.
  • Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Have experience working with non-lab adapted or anaerobic microbes, including such as Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Have experience with yeast, plant, algae, or microbiome systems.

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$290,000 Annually

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