Senior Bioprocess Engineer @ Biotech Startup, Rheinbach/Bonn

Mycolever is building the powerhouse for sustainable biocompounds. We unlock the biodiversity of fungi to supercharge the industrial bioeconomy.

At Mycolever, we are building the powerhouse for sustainable fungal biocompounds. We unlocking the biodiversity of fungi to supercharge the industrial bioeconomy.

Our journey begins with our biosurfactant platform, where we develop sustainable alternatives to petrochemical-based surfactants.

Ingredient by ingredient, we unlock the Fungal Kingdom with our compound discovery platform and provide highly functional biocompounds. Formulation by formulation, we minimize the environmental footprints of our customers and shape a greener future together.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Bioprocess Engineer to help us drive our mission forward!

As Senior Bioprocess Engineer, you will be responsible for developing, optimizing, and scaling bioprocesses for the production of fungal biosurfactants using fungal microorganisms. You will play a central role in transferring lab-scale protocols to pilot scale and work closely with genetic engineers, formulation scientists, and external production partners.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lab-scale process development: Design and optimize fermentation protocols for the production of fungal biosurfactants at lab scale.
• Feedstock evaluation: Assess and integrate alternative feedstocks, including agricultural byproducts and industrial side-streams.
• Cost optimization: Support techno-economic evaluation of bioprocess scenarios.
• Scale-up: Lead the scale-up of bioprocesses to pilot reactors, including planning, execution, and troubleshooting.
• Production: Collaborate with CDMOs and fermentation partners for pilot production campaigns by developing robust SOPs, process descriptions, and scale-up transfer protocols. Support manufacturing, ensuring quality control and scale-up processes.

• MSc or PhD in Bioprocess Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with microbial fermentation processes, including lab and pilot scale.
• Strong knowledge of aerobic fermentation and bioreactor operation.
• Experience with process optimization, statistical design (e.g. DoE), and scaling from bench to pilot scale.
• Familiarity with fungal organisms is a plus.
• Proficiency in data analysis and process monitoring tools.
• Independent, structured, and solution-oriented work style.
• Fluent in English (German is a plus).

What We Offer

• A dynamic and purpose-driven start-up environment.
• High level of responsibility and impact in a European flagship biotech project.
• Collaboration with leading researchers and industrial partners.
• The opportunity to contribute to sustainable solutions and next-generation surfactants.

Interested?

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us with your application – no extensive documents required. Let’s shape the future of the industrial bioeconomy together!

Equal Opportunity

At Mycolever, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We warmly welcome and encourage individuals from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups, to apply for this position.