Lab Technician - Downstream Process (DSP) - Full-time, on-site

About Us:

SMEY cultivates the next generation of high-performance oils through biotechnology and a proprietary AI toolkit.

We tackle critical challenges in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food industries where traditional manufacturing methods often fall short.

As pioneers in precision fermentation, we craft sustainable, tailor-made and unique ingredients that enhance health, ensure full supply chain traceability, and support global scalability.

Job Overview:

We are seeking a Lab Technician to assist our process development team by handling essential lab tasks such as media preparation, equipment maintenance, sample collection, and basic analytical testing. You will help ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the lab, supporting the optimization and scale-up of microbial oil isolation and purification for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food biotechnology applications. This role will involve working closely with scientists on projects involving yeast (bacterial, fungal) systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support downstream processing activities, including cell separation, solvent extraction, liquid-liquid separation, filtration, solvent processing and centrifugation.

• Assist in pilot-scale DSP experiments and help scale up lab procedures.

• Prepare and operate lab-scale DSP equipment (e.g., separators, rotary evaporators, Soxhlet extractors, centrifuges).

• Conduct basic and advanced analytical testing of oils and extracts, including moisture content, purity analysis, and GC/HPLC-based profiling.

• Maintain lab equipment and ensure proper documentation of protocols and experimental results.

• Collect and prepare samples from fermentation runs for DSP and QC analysis.

• Collaborate with upstream teams to improve process integration and product recovery.

• Maintain a clean and sterile lab environment by sterilizing glassware, instruments, and fermentation equipment.

• Assist in general lab support, autoclaving, cleaning, preparing, maintaining lab equipment and supply

Qualification:

• M.Sc. in biotechnology, food technology, chemistry, biochemistry or related field.

• Practical experience with extraction techniques, solvent handling, and analytical chemistry (e.g., Acid/Base titration, Karl-Fischer titration, Iodine titration, Internal Standard (ISTD) preparation, GC, HPLC).

• Familiarity with biological materials and sterile techniques.

• Strong organizational skills and ability to document procedures and results clearly.

• Eagerness to work in a multidisciplinary, fast-moving biotech environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with microbial lipids or fermentative oils.

• Hands-on experience with DSP unit operations and pilot systems.

• Knowledge of lipid analytics or food-grade purification processes is a strong plus.

Why Join Us?:

• Be part of an exciting and rapidly growing company that is transforming the food biotechnology industry.

• Work in a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven environment.

• Hands-on involvement in cutting-edge microbial fermentation projects.

• Competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

How to Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the position to jobs@smey.cc , using the subject line “ Lab Technician – Downstream Process Support Application. "