Automation-Driven Process Development Senior Associate

Planet Pharma; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma seeks a Process Development Senior Associate to join the Pivotal Drug Product Technologies Group in Thousand Oaks, CA. You will drive studies advancing automation, characterize drug product formulations, and collaborate with the automation team to enable commercialization.

You’ll apply chemistry, kinetics and statistics to solve challenges, manage data via ELN, and prepare technical documents while upholding safety and compliance. This role emphasizes independent work and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of industry experience or Master’s in a related field with biotech/pharma background.
• Familiarity with protein handling and processing in biotech/pharmaceutical settings.
• Experience with protein characterization techniques (SEC-UHPLC or CEX-UHPLC).
• Understanding of automated/high-throughput laboratory systems and liquid-handling platforms.
• Ability to learn new techniques, follow SOPs and work within policies.
• Strong problem solving, organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute studies to enable automation and high-throughput capabilities.
• Plan and execute studies to characterize drug product formulations and processes.
• Collaborate with automation team to coordinate study activities.
• Evaluate product attributes through analytical testing (pH, conductivity, osmolality, protein concentration, SEC, CEX, particles).
• Apply scientific and engineering principles to solve challenges.
• Support data management, ELN integration and data automation initiatives.
• Author and review technical documents, presentations, protocols, and reports.
• Promote safety and compliance initiatives in the lab.

Skills

Protein handling

Analytical testing

Data management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree (2+ yrs) or Master's in Chemical Engineering / Chemistry / Biochemistry / Biology with biotech/pharma background

Tools

UHPLC

SEC-UHPLC

CEX-UHPLC

ELN

Job description

Planet Pharma seeks a Process Development Senior Associate to join the Pivotal Drug Product Technologies Group in Thousand Oaks, CA. You will drive studies advancing automation, characterize drug product formulations, and collaborate with the automation team to enable commercialization.

You’ll apply chemistry, kinetics and statistics to solve challenges, manage data via ELN, and prepare technical documents while upholding safety and compliance. This role emphasizes independent work and teamwork.