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
Sound like you? We'd love to hear from you — apply now for an ASAP start.
