Principle Research Scientist Microbiology and Fermentation

Principle Research Scientist

Microbiology and Fermentation

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico 

Salary: $120,000 - $140,000  Relocation Bonus if out of state

Start Date: June 2026

About us:  

Trait Biosciences Inc. is a global leader in cannabinoid research, focused on developing technologies that enable the production of safe, high-quality, cannabinoid ingredients. We’re making huge advancements with our revolutionary technology enabling the production of truly water-soluble cannabinoids for cannabinoid-infused consumer products. Our mission is to develop the world’s most comprehensive integrated approach to cannabinoid science, insights, and technology.  

About the role: 

As a Principal Research Scientist, you will leverage deep expertise in microbiology or chemical engineering (with a focus on fermentation) to conduct research from lab bench development through scalable manufacturing. You will lead fermentation design, and scale-up efforts critical to advancing Trait’s R&D and commercializing Trait’s cannabinoid ingredients. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Perform fermentation processes involved in development and production qualifications, as per R&D objectives . You will drive key project milestones aligned with company objectives and timelines.  

• Design and optimize microbial fermentation processes (upstream bioprocessing), scaling from bench to pilot and commercial production.  

• Conduct bioreactor fermentations (e.g., fed-batch, continuous), and optimize fermentation conditions resulting in best cell growth and yield of desired fermentation end products.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex challenges in fermentation and bioprocess engineering, implementing effective and scalable solutions.  

• Analyze fermentation data using statistical methods and DOE (Design of Experiments) to support process improvement and consistency.  

• Lead technology transfer and scale-up activities from R&D to pilot and manufacturing environments.  

• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, downstream processing, and manufacturing teams to support process integration and execution.  

• Ensure compliance with GLP/GMP (as applicable) and laboratory safety standards.  

• Maintain clear, audit-ready documentation to support regulatory, technical, and IP requirements.  

• Manage project timelines and deliverables, contributing to cross-functional project planning and execution. 

About you:  

You are technically solid, highly self-motivated, and energetic. You thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. You are detail-oriented and work efficiently with a sense of urgency. In addition, you meet the following requirements. 

• You have 7 years of experience fermentation, lab through production scale. 
• You have a graduate degree (PhD preferred) in microbiology, chemical engineering, biotechnology, fermentation engineering, or a related field. 
• You have experience with setup and operation of high-performance bioreactors and quantitative analysis of fermentation data.  
• You have a high level of competency in understanding experimental procedures performed to assure the accuracy and quality of results. 
• You’re a great communicator - written and verbal. 
• You’re a critical thinker and problem solver. 
• You’re a self-starter who enjoys working autonomously as well as relationally collaborating with scientists to make appropriate and timely decisions to meet deadlines on experiments and projects.  
• You’ll focus on guiding the team to timely milestone accomplishments as we grow through the various stages of research, scale up and commercialization 

If you are an experienced research scientist with a passion for advancing fermentation technologies in an innovative and dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join our team and contribute to the success of our organization as we push boundaries of scientific discovery in the cannabinoid industry.