Principal PAT Specialist / SME – Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - Remote

Cognizant; Halifax; Remote; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

Paid holidays & PTO

401(k) plan

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Principal PAT Specialist/SME to support discovery, evaluation, and readiness of PAT initiatives in a regulated pharmaceutical environment. The role spans requirements definition, vendor engagement, and implementation planning across manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and R&D teams.

The ideal candidate will lead workshops, translate needs into concrete requirements, assess PAT solutions for GMP readiness, and drive implementation plans with cross-functional partners to

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in regulated life-sciences.
• Strong understanding of GMP, data integrity, and validated computerized systems.
• Experience defining requirements for PAT, process monitoring, and related technologies.
• Experience working with vendors and implementation partners.
• Proven ability to facilitate workshops and manage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery workshops with manufacturing SMEs to define PAT use cases and success criteria.
• Translate needs into business, functional, data, and validation requirements.
• Evaluate PAT technologies for fit, integration, scalability, and compliance.
• Support vendor discussions, solution assessment, and selection.
• Develop implementation plans covering GMP, validation, and regulatory considerations.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, and IT stakeholders.

Skills

PAT knowledge

GMP & data integrity

Vendor engagement

Requirements gathering

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Job description

*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*

About Us:

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is ranked 195 on the Fortune 500 and is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.

About Cognizant’s IoT Practice:

Intelligent, IoT-enabled products will soon result in the proliferation of data and disrupt virtually all industries. To be successful, both large and small companies must leverage IoT capabilities by designing modern products that fundamentally connect people with processes. Within Cognizant IOT, we engineer industry-aligned, IoT-enabled products that merge industry needs with human drivers. Our intelligent products will revolutionize experiences and result in exciting, transformative outcomes. Without human-centered thinking, connected products are just standalone things—but with it, our modern connected products facilitate a unified way of life enjoyed by all.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Principal Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Specialist / SME to support the discovery, evaluation, and implementation readiness of PAT initiatives within a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.

This is a hands-on SME role combining deep PAT and manufacturing process expertise with requirements definition, technology evaluation, vendor engagement, and implementation planning. The individual will work across Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, R&D, Digital/IT teams, Product Owners, and implementation partners to ensure PAT solutions are fit for purpose, GMP-ready, scalable, and aligned with manufacturing priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead structured discovery workshops with manufacturing and technical SMEs to identify and define PAT use cases, business value, scope, and success criteria.
• Translate manufacturing and process needs into clear business, functional, process, data, integration, validation, and system requirements.
• Evaluate PAT technologies and solutions based on technical fit, feasibility, integration requirements, scalability, and compliance considerations.
• Support vendor evaluation, technical discussions, solution assessment, and selection.
• Obtain vendor inputs and estimates to support cost modeling, ROI analysis, and business-case development for prioritized PAT opportunities.
• Develop and maintain PAT implementation plans incorporating GMP, validation, data integrity, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Regulatory, R&D, and Digital/IT stakeholders to establish implementation responsibilities and readiness.
• Support implementation partners with requirements clarification, issue/risk resolution, and milestone execution.
• Support PAT solutions through pilot, implementation, and scale-up readiness.
• Provide SME guidance on PAT technology selection, validation strategy, manufacturing integration, and regulatory/GMP considerations.

Required Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or regulated life-sciences manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience implementing PAT solutions, including technology assessment/selection and implementation readiness.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and interactions across Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Regulatory, and Digital/IT.
• Experience defining requirements for PAT, process monitoring, analytical instrumentation, or related manufacturing technologies.
• Strong understanding of GMP, data integrity, validation/CSV, and regulated computerized systems.
• Experience working with vendors and technical implementation partners.
• Strong requirements documentation, workshop facilitation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate technical PAT concepts effectively to both technical and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with real-time or in-line/at-line process monitoring and manufacturing process analytics.
• Experience assessing PAT use cases and progressing them from discovery through implementation.
• Experience developing business cases, cost models, or ROI assessments for manufacturing technology initiatives.
• Experience supporting manufacturing-site pilots and subsequent scale-up.
• Experience collaborating across manufacturing, process development/R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, and Digital/IT organizations.

Compensation:

- CAD 90,000 to CAD 130,000 + COLA and this position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans. Application will be accepted by 10/30/2026

Benefits

Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

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