Microbiologist

Microbiologist — Leatherhead, Surrey

Salary: £26,000 – £28,000, depending on experience

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hrs/week, Monday–Friday

Location: On-site, Bluebird House, Leatherhead

Reporting to: Senior Microbiologist

Start: ASAP

Cara Technology holds the largest collection of brewing yeast in the world — 850 strains, built up over almost 130 years, trusted by breweries globally since 1881. We're growing our microbiology team to keep pace with new projects and increasing demand — this is a brand-new role, not a replacement, with real scope to grow into it.

As Microbiologist, you'll work hands-on with that yeast bank: producing yeast slopes for customers worldwide, running DNA fingerprinting and yeast banking, and providing technical support that directly shapes what ends up in some of the world's best-known breweries. You'll join a small, tight-knit team — the kind of place where your work is genuinely visible and you're not just a cog in a big department.

What you'll do

• Manufacture yeast slopes to meet production targets and client orders

• Prepare culture media, inoculate, and manage fermentation processes

• Carry out DNA fingerprinting and yeast banking, including liquid nitrogen storage

• Support customer projects: technical reports, consultancy, and sample testing

• Maintain lab documentation, stock levels, and quality standards

What we're looking for

• Experience in microbiology, laboratory work, or a related scientific discipline

• Solid grounding in yeast microbiology and quality control processes

• Strong attention to detail, organisation, and communication skills

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team

Nice to have

• Experience in brewing or fermentation

• Familiarity with HACCP / Quality Management Systems

• Customer-facing technical support experience

What you'll get

• 26 days holiday + bank holidays

• Company pension

• Enhanced sick, parental, and bereavement leave

• Flexible working hours where possible

• On-site parking

• Professional body subscription fees covered

• Company events and socials

• Genuine training and development opportunities