Cell Therapy Production Associate, Oncology - Day Shift (Multiple Positions)

Orca Bio; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 61,152 - 66,248; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized daily lunches

401(k) plan

Parental leave benefits

Job summary

Orca Bio is seeking a Cell Therapy Production Associate for the day shift in Sacramento, California. This role plays a crucial part in producing life-saving cell therapy products, where adherence to quality standards and production techniques is vital.

The ideal candidate has a degree in biomanufacturing or equivalent experience, with strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from $61,152 to $66,248 annually, alongside a range of benefits including equity, healthcare, and subsidized meals.

Qualifications

• Associate degree and at least 1 year of experience in biomanufacturing OR High School Diploma/GED with 2 years of experience.
• Experience working in GMP-compliant environments preferred.
• Involvement in investigations, deviations, and change control processes.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor advanced manufacturing equipment for cell therapy product production.
• Follow SOPs and batch records to perform production activities.
• Complete assigned training to maintain technical proficiency and adhere to cGMP standards.

Skills

Detail oriented

Strong work ethic

Excellent interpersonal skills

Collaborative work

Education

Associate degree in biomanufacturing

High School Diploma/GED with biomanufacturing experience

Tools

GMP-compliant environments

Job description

More than one million people in the United States today are fighting blood cancer. While a traditional allogeneic stem cell transplant has been the best hope for many, the transplant itself can prove fatal or lead to serious conditions, such as graft vs. host disease. Orca Bio is a late‑stage biotechnology company redefining the transplant process by developing next‑generation cell therapies with the goal of providing significantly better survival rates with dramatically fewer risks. With our purified, high‑precision investigational cell therapies we hope to not only replace patients' blood and immune systems with healthy ones, but also restore their lives.

The Cell Therapy Production Associate, Oncology – Day Shift plays a critical role in the production of Orca Bio’s life‑saving cell therapy products, ensuring adherence to strict quality standards, regulatory requirements and aseptic production techniques. Reporting into the assigned supervisor, commercial manufacturing, the job involves repeatedly executing manufacturing processes, cleaning and maintaining production equipment and workstations and documenting production activities in a highly regulated environment. The role collaborates closely with Materials Management, Quality Control (QC), and Quality Assurance (QA) to carry out GMP manufacturing runs as part of a cross‑functional team.

Day Shift Hours worked

6am to 6:30pm or 6:30am to 7:00pm

Work Week Schedule

• Sunday, Monday, Tuesday + every other Wednesday
• Thursday, Friday, Saturday + every other Wednesday

Physical and Work Demands

• Production Associates: Must have visual acuity of 20/20 (corrected or uncorrected) and normal color vision to safely perform critical tasks such as visual inspection of materials, equipment, and labeling, including distinguishing color‑coded components in a GMP environment.
• Must be able to meet cleanroom gowning requirements, including wearing full gowning (face coverings, gloves, hoods, goggles) for extended periods, as needed. Use of cosmetics (makeup, painted nails), jewelry, or facial piercings is not permitted in the cleanroom, and any skin conditions that cause shedding must be disclosed.
• Must be comfortable regularly participating in video‑based meetings.
• Schedules, as noted, include daily overtime, Saturday or Sunday work and holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and closely monitor advanced manufacturing equipment to support the production of cutting‑edge cell therapy products
• Follow and execute standard operating procedures (SOPs) and batch records to perform production activities
• Identify and resolve equipment or process issues, escalating to management as necessary
• Complete all assigned training to maintain required technical proficiency and adhere to cGMP standards
• Operate, monitor, clean, and prepare advanced automated equipment for cell processing, expansion, and filling in Grade B/C cleanroom environments. All required PPE and GMP‑compliant gowning are provided by the company
• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts, including manufacturing efficiency, compliance practices, and support for investigations, deviations, and change control processes

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree and at least 1 year of experience in biomanufacturing, OR
• High School Diploma/GED with a minimum of 2 years of biomanufacturing experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in GMP‑compliant environments
• Involvement in investigations, deviations, and change control processes
• B.S. degree in Biological or related sciences

Personal Qualities

• Highly detail oriented with special attention to quality and documentation
• Strong work ethic, curiosity to learn and contribute in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work both independently and in a collaborative manner
• Highly tolerant and respectful of all team members

$61,152 - $66,248 a year

Base hourly pay range: $24–$26. Annualized earnings reflect estimated scheduled overtime. There is a no shift differential for day shift. Total compensation will vary based on assigned shift, overtime worked, and applicable differentials.

The anticipated annual salary range for this job is based on prior experience in the role/industry, education, location, internal equity, and other job‑related factors as permitted by law. For remote‑based positions, this range may vary based on your local market. Full‑time employment positions will also be eligible to receive pre‑IPO equity and annual bonus, in addition to competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits, PTO, 401(k) plan, life and accidental death and disability coverage, and parental leave benefits. Other perks include subsidized daily lunches and snacks at our on‑site locations.

Who we are

We are driven by a passion for science and compassion for patients. We act with urgency to ensure our treatments are one day accessible to all who need them.

We live by our core values of passion, courage, and integrity. Excellence in our work means the chance to unlock a better quality of life for our patients, and with that comes tremendous responsibility.

We innovate on a path that hasn’t been paved. We embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and take calculated risks to achieve our mission. We aren’t afraid to ask “why not” and challenge the status quo.

We maintain a start‑up culture of camaraderie and leadership by example, regardless of title.

We’re proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, and recognize that celebrating our differences creates stronger, lasting solutions that better serve our team, our patients and their healthcare providers.

Notice to staffing firms

Orca Bio does not accept resumes from staffing agencies with which we do not have a written agreement and specific engagement for a particular opening. Our employment activities, inquiries and offers are managed through our HR/Talent team, and all candidates are presented through this channel only. We do not accept unsolicited resumes, and we rarely outsource recruitment.