Main Functions
As a member of the Lallemand Corporate R&D team, you will contribute to the improvement of existing products and the development of new products through fermentation process development and strain evaluation.
Your primary focus will be to:
- Screen and characterize yeast and bacterial strains in bioreactors.
- Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot upstream (USP) processes for the production of microbial biomass, enzymes, and molecules.
- Assist scale-up and scale-down studies to support commercial manufacturing.
- Support technology transfer and process implementation across Lallemand sites.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fermentation & Process Development
- Screen and characterize microbial strains for enzyme and molecule production.
- Develop and optimize batch, fed-batch, and continuous fermentation processes.
- Design, program, execute, and monitor bioreactor experiments.
- Assist scale-up and scale-down studies to support commercial production.
- Support troubleshooting and optimization of existing manufacturing processes.
Hands-On Laboratory Work
- Plan and execute fermentation runs.
- Prepare media, feeds, inocula, and bioreactors.
- Perform reactor setup, start-up, sampling, process monitoring, and corrective actions.
- Carry out reactor shutdown, cleaning, sterilization, and autoclaving activities.
- Maintain fermentation equipment and ensure the technical readiness of the platform.
- Support occasional spray-drying activities for enzyme projects.
Data Analysis & Documentation
- Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret experimental data.
- Apply statistical and data-analysis tools to support process-development decisions.
- Prepare technical reports, protocols, SOPs, and process documentation.
- Communicate results and technical recommendations to R&D and business stakeholders.
Project & Cross-Functional Support
- Contribute to project planning, prioritization, and execution.
- Collaborate with teams in strain engineering, analytical sciences, DSP, QC, operations, and manufacturing.
- Support technology transfer, training, and process implementation across Lallemand sites.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of laboratory procedures, workflows, and technical standards.
Laboratory Operations
- Contribute to the day-to-day operation and development of the fermentation platform.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.
- Support the upkeep, calibration, and maintenance of fermentation equipment.
- Demonstrate flexibility to accommodate fermentation schedules that may occasionally require off-hours or weekend sampling.
Technical skills
Required
- B.Sc. + 5 years experience or M.Sc. + 2 years experience or higher academic degree in Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Biology, or a related field.
- Hands-on experience with microbial fermentation involving yeast and/or bacteria.
- Experience with batch, fed-batch, and continuous bioprocesses.
- Strong understanding of microbial physiology and fermentation science.
- Experience operating laboratory-scale bioreactors (e.g., 2-L scale).
- Strong knowledge of aseptic techniques and laboratory best practices.
An asset
- Experience with Sartorius MFCS software and bioprocess control systems is highly desirable; experience with other bioprocess software is also a plus.
- Knowledge of Design of Experiments (DoE), microbiology, molecular biology, metabolic engineering, biochemistry, or metabolic flux analysis is an advantage.
- Experience with Excel-macros, programming and data-analysis skills is an advantage.
- Industrial experience is an advantage but not a requirement.
Personal abilities
Required
- Highly organized, hands-on, and detail-oriented.
- Strong laboratory housekeeping, documentation, and record-keeping skills.
- Comfortable working daily with fermentation equipment and laboratory operations.
- Proactive, flexible, and able to adapt to changing priorities.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Fluent in English, both written and spoken.
General criteria
Required
- Valid work permit or residence permit for Switzerland.
Organization
Lallemand is a privately held Canadian company founded in the late 19th century, which develops, produces, and markets microorganisms for various markets. The administrative offices of the parent company are in Montreal, Canada. Today, Lallemand employs more than 6,500 people working in more than 45 countries on 5 continents.
Lallemand's Bio-Ingredients business unit has decades of experience as a quality yeast producer for the savory, health, and biotech industries.
We produce a wide range of products including yeast extracts, inactive yeasts and their derivatives for flavour enhancers, enriched mineral and vitamin yeasts for the health supplement and health food markets, and high-grade yeast extracts for the biotech industry. These products are propelled across the globe thanks to our impressive reach and a large dedicated team that serves our customers worldwide.
The Bio-Ingredients team is proud of the strong partnerships it has forged with its clients, relying on trust and cooperation in order to develop custom solutions for each individual business. Check out the available career opportunities in North America and several European countries.
Please take note that accommodations will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.
