Job description
Site Name: UK - North Ayrshire - Irvine
Posted Date: Jan 20 2026
Fermentation Technologist - 12 Months Secondment / FTCClosing Date - 3rd February 2026 (COB)Business Introduction
We manufacture and supply reliable, high-quality medicines and vaccines to meet patients’ needs and drive our performance.
Our network of 37 medicines and vaccines manufacturing sites delivered 1.7 billion packs of medicines and 409 million vaccine doses in 2024 to help make a positive impact on the health of millions of people. Our supply chain is not just core to our operations; it’s vital to bringing our innovations to patients as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible. Technology is transforming how we manufacture medicines and vaccines, enabling us to increase the speed, quality and scale of product supply.
We need the very best minds and capability to help us on our journey to make more complex products, harnessing the power of smart manufacturing technologies including robotics, digital solutions and artificial intelligence to deliver for patients.
Position Summary
You will support and improve fermentation processes. You will work closely with colleagues in process development, manufacturing, quality, and engineering. We value curiosity, clear problem-solving, and a hands-on approach. This role offers chances to grow your technical skills, lead investigations, and help deliver medicines that make a real difference. Join us to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
Responsibilities
This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:
- Operate and optimise fermentation processes from lab scale to production scale, following safety and quality standards.
- Plan, run and document fermentation trials, sampling strategies and process characterisation studies.
- Troubleshoot process deviations and lead root cause analyses with clear corrective actions.
- Analyse process and analytical data to identify trends and propose improvements.
- Support technology transfers, validation activities and protocol preparation for scale-up.
- Work with cross-functional teams and suppliers to maintain equipment, raw material quality and process robustness.
Why You?
Basic Qualification
We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals:
- Degree in biotechnology, microbiology, biochemical engineering or a related science, or equivalent experience.
- Experience working with fermentation/bioreactor systems in a regulated manufacturing or industrial laboratory environment.
- Practical skills in aseptic technique, sterile sampling and bioprocess operation.
- Familiarity with process documentation and good manufacturing practice (GMP) requirements.
- Strong analytical skills and experience working with process data and standard software tools (Excel, data capture systems).
- Clear written and verbal communication skills and ability to work well in teams.
Preferred Qualification
If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:
- Experience with scale-up from development to commercial fermentation operations.
- Knowledge of downstream processing interfaces and key process parameters for biologics.
- Experience with process modelling, statistical tools or Design of Experiments (DoE).
- Familiarity with automation systems, SCADA or distributed control systems used in bioprocessing.
- Track record of leading investigations, change controls or corrective actions in a regulated setting.
- Awareness of sustainability considerations in biomanufacturing and process optimisation.
Work Arrangement
This role is fulltime on-site in Irvine in the United Kingdom.
What we offer
You will join a collaborative team focused on learning and continuous improvement. You will have opportunities to develop technical and leadership skills. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage people who bring different perspectives. If you are ready to apply your fermentation skills to meaningful work, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help us get ahead of disease together.Why GSK?Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale. People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people. GSK is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), military service or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are. Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us at UKRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com where you can also request a call. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels. However, we have created a Recruitment FAQ guide. Click the link where you will find answers to multiple questions we receive Important notice to Employment businesses/ AgenciesGSK does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact GSK's commercial and general procurement/human resources department to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to GSK. The obtaining of prior written authorization is a condition precedent to any agreement (verbal or written) between the employment business/ agency and GSK. In the absence of such written authorization being obtained any actions undertaken by the employment business/agency shall be deemed to have been performed without the consent or contractual agreement of GSK. GSK shall therefore not be liable for any fees arising from such actions or any fees arising from any referrals by employment businesses/agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. Please note that if you are a US Licensed Healthcare Professional or Healthcare Professional as defined by the laws of the state issuing your license, GSK may be required to capture and report expenses GSK incurs, on your behalf, in the event you are afforded an interview for employment. This capture of applicable transfers of value is necessary to ensure GSK’s compliance to all federal and state US Transparency requirements. For more information, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/
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