Bioprocessing Engineer
Description:
Job Description
Job Title: Bioprocess Technician
Job Summary:
The Bioprocess Technician will support large-scale aerobic fermentation processes, contributing to process improvement, innovation, and compliance at Axitan’s pilot plant. This role involves optimizing growth conditions for various organisms, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and driving continuous innovation projects in animal feed spaces. This position will report to the Axitan’s Lead Scientist for experimental guidance/ planning. The technician will collaborate with manufacturing, QA/QC, and process development teams to enhance efficiency, remove bottlenecks, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Essential Job Functions:
o Operate seed and production-scale bioreactors, including cleaning, sterilization, media preparation, sampling, and routine maintenance.
o Collaborate with production and compliance departments to ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and quality standards.
o Monitor and analyze KPIs, standardizing metrics in collaboration with leadership.
o Drive continuous improvement projects, including piping, controls, and equipment modifications.
o Maintain process documentation (SOPs, operating targets, process safety information, and training materials).
o Work closely with Lead scientist on experimental planning and excecution.
o Promote and maintain a safe working environment, adhering to OSHA, GMP, and Axitan’s food safety standards.
Required Education, Experience, and Skills
o Hands-on experience with microbial fermentation including operation of bench, pilot scale fermenters or bioreactors is preferred.
o Strong knowledge of good aseptic technique and clean in place is required.
o Familiarity with the knowledge to maintain a safe work environment in accordance with policies, procedures, and regulations within area of responsibility.
o Excellent oral and written communication skills. Creativity, problem solving skills, a detail-oriented and meticulous work attitude.
o Mechanical aptitude is a critical skill for this job.
o Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Bioprocessing, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, cell culture or a related field; equivalent work experience considered.
o >1 year of industrial fermentation experience preferred.
o Proficiency in data analytics.
o Experience with process diagrams (PFDs, P&IDs).
o Strong verbal and technical writing skills.
o Ability to multitask, prioritize workload, and work effectively in a team.
o Must be computer proficient with working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
o Mechanical aptitude and basic maintenance skills.
o Ability to work in an industrial plant setting, including standing for extended periods.
o Must be open to working day and night shifts as required.
Work Environment:
This role is based in a pilot plant setting, requiring adherence to safety protocols and the ability to perform physically demanding tasks.
Work Hours
o Must be able to work off-hours and/or weekends to ensure process trials and/or production runs onsite at Comer, GA are successfully performed.
Physical Characteristics
o Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
o Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
o Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances, climbing stairs, or ladders.
o Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
o Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
o Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
o Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or finger, picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand.
o Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Job Location: Flexible with time commitments to Comer, GA, United States; Tainan, Taiwan; London, UK
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular/Salary/Exempt
Salary: Competitive base range
Benefits: Healthcare, Dental, Vision, HSA Options, Bonus Plan – eventually 401K, insurance and other benefits
About Axitan, Inc.
Axitan, Inc. was found with the mission in mind to replace antibiotics in our food production. We have established the world’s first endolysin platform targeting tough bacterial pathogens in our food supply. Our technology center is located in the UK and our pilot production facility is located in Comer, GA. We have passion for applying biotechnology to build nutritional solutions for historical tough health challenges. Come be part of the team that is making antibiotic free protein production a reality! Axitan encourages candidates to apply even if they don’t meet every listed qualification. The candidate will work with a team of dynamic scientists, engineers, and manufacturing personnel as a contributor to the advancement of fermentation processes.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Commensurate with experience
Benefits:
Dental insurance
Health insurance
20 days Paid time off
Safety equipment provided
Vision insurance
Schedule:
Day shift
Evening shift
Ability to Commute:
Comer, GA 30629 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
Comer, GA 30629: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
Full-time