Associate Director, LVV Upstream Process Development

AstraZeneca; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 138,000 - 208,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Short-term incentive bonuses

Equity-based awards

Retirement programs

Paid time off

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking an Associate Director, Viral Vector Process Development (Upstream) in Gaithersburg, MD. The role leads end-to-end LVV upstream design, development, and scale-up for suspension platforms, spanning research through IND enabling and into late-stage readiness.

Ideal candidates bring deep LVV expertise, strong leadership, and a track record of progressing programs in GMP environments. The position includes potential incentives and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD) in Biochemical Engineering, Virology, Chemical/Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, or related field with 6+ years of experience; or MS with 10+ years.
• Deep expertise in upstream LVV process development on suspension platforms and translation to clinical/commercial scales.
• Experience with design-space, CPP/CMAs, and technology transfer to GMP sites/CDMOs.

Responsibilities

• Lead LVV upstream processes optimized for suspension culture across pilot, clinical, and commercial scales.
• Design scale-up strategies and establish scale-down models for characterization.
• Oversee DOE/MVDA planning, data analysis, and knowledge capture for control strategies.
• Mentor junior team members and drive a culture of safety and scientific rigor.
• Prepare high-quality documentation and support regulatory CMC sections.
• Lead KPIs, process performance trends, and Lean/digital tools adoption.

Skills

LVV upstream

Scale-up & tech transfer

DOE & MVDA

PAT & digital lab

Leadership & communication

cGMP operations

Education

PhD in Biochemical/Virology Engineering

MS in related field

Tools

Single-use suspension bioreactors

Process automation

Regulatory knowledge (CMC)

Job description

AstraZeneca is seeking an Associate Director, Viral Vector Process Development (Upstream) in Gaithersburg, MD. The role leads end-to-end LVV upstream design, development, and scale-up for suspension platforms, spanning research through IND enabling and into late-stage readiness.

Ideal candidates bring deep LVV expertise, strong leadership, and a track record of progressing programs in GMP environments. The position includes potential incentives and comprehensive benefits.