Microbiologist

Job Title: Microbiologist I
Job Description

This Microbiologist I position offers an exciting opportunity to work in a contract manufacturing environment with cosmetics, personal care, and OTC products. You will gain valuable experience in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) while working with FDA regulated products. This role is an excellent chance to work under Senior Microbiologists to develop and hone your laboratory skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct microbial testing within a laboratory environment adhering to USP requirements, GMP guidelines, and SOPs.
• Work with raw materials, bulk product, and finished goods.
• Utilize processes and technology to improve the quality and efficiency of production.
• Perform tests, review test data, and report results, assisting in investigations under the supervisor's direction.
• Validate procedures, test methods, and equipment to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory guidelines.
• Assist with the environmental monitoring program to maintain a safe and clean work environment.
• Maintain and grow your technical knowledge in Six Sigma, testing, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure a safe work environment while complying with cGMP guidelines.

Essential Skills

• Microbiology
• Laboratory
• Aseptic technique
• Experience in the microbiology industry within personal care, pharmaceuticals, or cosmetics
• Knowledge of standard micro tests such as selective subcultures, rapid growth media, and making media
• Experience with autoclave, incubator, GMP environment, pH meter, media preparation, plating, and SOP

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology, Biology, or Biochemistry
• 0-6 months of microbiology lab experience in pharma, personal care, food, or cosmetics industry; experience can be from an academic lab
• Understanding of aseptic techniques, media preparation, autoclave hoods, and incubators
• Experience with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Previous Quality system experience (DaVinci)

Work Environment

This is a Monday through Friday, first-shift position (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) at the EP site. The role involves working in a production-style microbiology lab with a business casual dress code. You will work independently and as part of the microbiology team, interacting regularly with other departments. The position may require significant work hours beyond the normal workday due to business demands, customer volume, and sales efforts. The work is cyclical with moderate interruptions. Travel is limited. The role requires continuous standing and walking, talking, teaching, repetitive hand/wrist motion, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds. You must have good eyesight, normal hearing, and be fluent in English. Exposure to various fragrances at elevated levels may occur.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Eden Prairie, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $25.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Eden Prairie,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Apr 20, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.

microbiology, aseptic technique, good manufacturing practices, laboratory, microbial testing, usp standards, sop compliance, environmental monitoring, media preparation, autoclave operation, incubator operation, ph meter operation, selective subculture techniques, rapid growth media, media making, ms office suite, quality system (davinci), continuous improvement, stakeholder communication, Laboratory Technician, Laboratory Analyst, Medical Technologist, Laboratory Consultant, Clinical Research Technician, Laboratory Coordinator, Laboratory Assistant, Laboratory Programmer, Senior Scientist, Laboratory Operations Manager