Microbiology Ops Specialist

Spore.Bio • New York, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Spore.Bio is a deeptech startup founded in 2023, building the next generation of quality control for Food & Beverage, Cosmetics, and Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Traditional microbiology testing is slow, labor-intensive, and costly. Our platform combines advanced optical imaging and deep learning to detect bacterial contamination in 10 minutes, not days. We're expanding into the US and building our first American team in New York. This role is central to how we deliver our technology to customers. We're looking for a Microbiology Operations Specialist to be one of the cornerstones of deploying our technology in industrial environments across the US. You'll work at the intersection of hands-on lab science and field-based customer engagement, alternating between on-site visits at factories and client labs, and bench work at Spore.Bio's US operations base. You'll be the expert who installs our technology, validates protocols, trains customer teams, and serves as the critical link between our clients and our internal R&D and product teams. This role is based in New York City, with regular travel to customer sites across the US.

Requirements

• Solid background in applied microbiology: culture techniques, organism identification, microscopy, sample and matrix processing
• 2–5 years of experience in a microbiology lab, QC environment, or field application role, ideally in Food & Beverage, Cosmetics, or Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Strong client-facing skills and professional demeanor; comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders at major industrial companies
• Hands-on, resourceful, and field-oriented - you thrive in dynamic environments and are comfortable with ambiguity
• Ability to synthesize, document, and communicate technical information clearly, both verbally and in writing
• Organized and autonomous; able to manage your own schedule across lab and field responsibilities
• Genuine curiosity about new technologies - AI, machine learning, imaging - and how they apply to microbiology
• Willingness to travel up to 30–40% for customer site visits across the US
• Based in or willing to relocate to New York City

Nice To Haves

• Experience with rapid microbiology methods (RMM) or alternative testing technologies
• Familiarity with FDA, FSMA, USP, or EU GMP microbiology compliance frameworks
• Experience working with contract labs, CROs, or multi-site QC deployments
• Background with microscopy, image analysis, or digital lab tools
• Experience in a customer-facing application scientist, field scientist, or technical specialist role

Responsibilities

• Deploy our technology on-site at customer manufacturing and QC facilities, supporting users through to full operational autonomy
• Validate microbiological results: identification, culture, matrix processing, and environmental monitoring protocols tailored to customer environments
• Train operators and lab staff on Spore.Bio instrumentation and workflows; develop and improve on-site best practices
• Act as the primary bridge between customer needs and our internal R&D and product teams, capturing feedback and translating it into actionable input
• Support lab-based matrix protocol innovation, helping expand the range of samples and environments our technology can address
• Troubleshoot field challenges in real time, providing creative, pragmatic solutions at customer sites
• Engage regularly with QC managers, lab directors, regulatory affairs teams, and senior operations leaders at major Food, Cosmetics, and Pharma companies
• Contribute to internal documentation: SOPs, application notes, field reports, and protocol libraries
• Support the sales and field service teams during customer evaluations and pilot programs

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance (employer-sponsored)
• Flexible remote/hybrid setup - you manage your territory
• Travel budget for customer visits, conferences, and roadshows
• Quarterly in-person gatherings with the global team, including visits to our Paris HQ
• Performance-based annual bonus
• Meaningful early-employee equity grant with standard 4-year vest / 1-year cliff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed