Metabolic Engineering Scientist II

Who we are 

Lesaffre is a key global player in the fermentation of microorganisms (yeasts and bacteria) for baking, taste, healthcare and industrial biotechnology. This story began more than 170 years ago in northern France, and, thanks to our pioneer spirit and our innovative approach, we are constantly developing. 

Lesaffre's global presence includes 11,000 employees from 96 nationalities and a 3-billion euro turnover. We work with customers, partners and researchers to develop essential nutrients and bio actives that strengthen human health, optimize animal well-being and improve plant nutrition. 

This role is within Recombia Biosciences, a metabolic engineering company part of the Lesaffre Group since 2022. Recombia Biosciences specializes in the development and commercialization of innovative microbial solutions for various industries, including agriculture, food, and biofuels. Leveraging Lesaffre's extensive expertise in fermentation and microbiology, Recombia focuses on applying advanced biotechnology, such as metabolic and genome engineering and synthetic biology, to create customized microbial strains with enhanced functionalities using precision fermentation.

Our Core Values: Passion, respect, trust, entrepreneurship, and humility  

Pay Range: $120K-$160K annually commensurate with qualifications and experience

What we offer  

• The opportunity to represent a passionate organization focused on innovation and sustainability 
• A competitive 401K plan, affordable benefits starting on day 1 of employment, and 11 paid holidays  
• The ability to utilize your experience and knowledge to make a real impact  
• Opportunities for continuous growth

What you bring to the table 

As a key member of our Recombia crew, you will leverage your strong background in metabolic engineering to design and implement genetic modifications that optimize industrial yeast strains. Working closely with our scientific leadership and cross-functional lab teams, you will demonstrate your ability to juggle multiple high-pressure projects, meet tight deadlines, and deliver results that drive our business forward. Your specialized expertise in areas like pathway optimization and robust strain characterization assays will be instrumental in accelerating our design-build-test cycles and transforming our microbial solutions. If you're ready to make your mark at the intersection of biotechnology and industrial fermentation, we want you on our team. Apply now and unlock your potential to shape the future of Recombia Biosciences!

What you’ll do as a Metabolic Engineering Scientist II

•  Independently lead a research project for product development
•  Design, execute, and analyze strain construction and strain improvement strategies to produce molecules of interest through engineered metabolic pathways
•  Independently troubleshoot technically complex problems, perform root cause analysis, and propose solutions or experimental plans to resolve or correct for them with the final objective of achieving efficient, rapid and cost-effective strain engineering
•  Design, develop and implement genome editing technologies to generate new improved strains to produce new industrial traits of interest or to produce biomolecules of interest
•  Apply advanced statistical tools and write experimental reports for supporting business and R&D needs
•  Work with a diverse team of scientists and interface directly with internal and external partners in various disciplines
•  Participate in project planning and execution and present research results at different technical meetings
•  Maintain detailed and accurate records and provide training and coaching to Research Associates
•  Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:  

•  PhD in Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Microbiology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Biology
•  Strong background in metabolic engineering of microorganisms, especially in central carbon metabolism of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica), demonstrated through relevant publications or work experience
•  4 years Industry experience in metabolic engineering and/or genome editing technologies
•  Expertise in developing and optimizing high-throughput analytical assays to characterize engineered strains
•  Proficiency in molecular biology techniques for yeast and bacteria, including PCR, cloning, genome editing, and DNA sequencing

Preferred qualifications: 

•  Programming and data analysis skills (Python, R, etc)
•  Familiarity with Benchling environment and their Developer APIs
•  Construction and analysis of metabolic models

 **This position is not open for immigration sponsorship. Valid US work authorization is required at the time of hire.**

Lesaffre provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.   

Salary : $120,000 - $160,000