Calibration Lead

AstraZeneca; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking a Calibration Lead to drive GMP calibration programs for critical equipment in Cell Therapy operations. You will collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, QA, Validation, Automation, Facilities, and Laboratory teams to ensure compliant, reliable performance.

The role requires five years of GMP calibration experience, strong troubleshooting and risk-based decision making, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams and external service providers in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualifications in instrumentation, electrical or mechanical engineering, metrology, automation, biotech or related field.
• Minimum of five years’ GMP pharma/calibration/metrology experience.
• Experience troubleshooting complex instrumentation and equipment issues.
• Knowledge of measurement uncertainty, risk-based calibration, and validation concepts.
• Experience with deviation investigations, CAPA, change control, qualification, and validation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain risk-based calibration program for GMP equipment.
• Lead calibration, qualification, and validation of critical systems and process equipment.
• Troubleshoot calibration failures and instrument drift.
• Support investigations and CAPAs with technical impact assessments.
• Review calibration trends and optimise frequencies and maintenance.
• Prepare calibration procedures, reports, certificates, and technical documentation.

Skills

Technical troubleshooting

Cross-functional teamwork leadership

Communication with stakeholders

Quality/compliance focus

Education

Degree or equivalent qualifications in Instrumentation, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Automation, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.

Job description

The Calibration Lead will be responsible for leading calibration programs, solving instrumentation and equipment issues, developing scientifically justified tolerances, operating ranges, and acceptance criteria, and ensuring that calibration activities comply with GMP, data integrity, safety, and quality requirements. The role will work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Validation, Automation, Facilities, and Laboratory teams to support reliable and compliant Cell Therapy operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain risk-based calibration program for GMP equipment and instrumentation.
• Lead calibration, qualification, and validation activities for critical systems and process equipment.
• Troubleshoot calibration failures, instrument drift, repeat failures, and out-of-tolerance results.
• Perform technical impact assessments for calibration deviations and support investigations and CAPAs.
• Develop and justify calibration tolerances, operating ranges, alert limits, action limits, and acceptance criteria.
• Use equipment specifications, process requirements, historical data, measurement uncertainty, and risk assessments to establish appropriate limits.
• Review calibration trends and identify opportunities to optimise calibration frequencies and preventive maintenance.
• Prepare and review calibration procedures, protocols, reports, certificates, and technical documentation.
• Support equipment introduction, qualification, change controls, technology transfers, and decommissioning activities.
• Coordinate internal technicians and external calibration service providers.
• Ensure calibration activities are completed safely, accurately, on time, and in accordance with approved procedures.
• Maintain compliance with GMP, Good Documentation Practices, data integrity, and site quality procedures.
• Provide technical support during internal audits, regulatory inspections, and client audits.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Validation, Automation, Facilities, and Laboratory teams.
• Promote continuous improvement, right-first-time execution, and reliable equipment performance.

Required Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent qualifications in Instrumentation, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, Metrology, Automation, Biotechnology, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ relevant work experience in calibration, metrology, instrumentation, validation, or maintenance within a GMP pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biologics, or Cell Therapy environment.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting complex instrumentation and equipment issues.
• Experience developing and reviewing tolerances, calibration ranges, acceptance criteria, alert limits, and action limits.
• Knowledge of measurement uncertainty, equipment criticality, and risk-based calibration.
• Experience with deviation investigations, CAPA, change control, qualification, and validation.
• Working knowledge of GMP, data integrity, Good Documentation Practices, and audit requirements.
• Experience with temperature, pressure, humidity, flow, level, mass, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, gas concentration, speed, and environmental monitoring instruments.
• Statistical trending, calibration interval optimization, and measurement uncertainty calculations.

Desired

• Experience with calibration or maintenance management systems is desirable.
• Familiarity with EU GMP, FDA GMP, ISO/IEC 17025, and applicable metrology standards is a plus.

Core Competencies

• Strong technical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Ability to make sound, science- and risk-based decisions.
• Strong understanding of GMP and data integrity requirements.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and external service providers.
• Excellent organization and prioritization skills.
• Commitment to product quality, patient safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $89,874.40 - 134,811.60. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.

Date Posted

14-Oct-2026

Closing Date

30-Oct-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics.

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.