CSV Lead

I.T. Solutions, Inc.; Foster City (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

I.T. Solutions, Inc. in Foster City, CA seeks a senior CSV Lead to own risk-based validation strategy for GxP computerized systems supporting a greenfield biopharma facility.

You will serve as validation lead and approver for DeltaV, Client-X MES, and process knowledge management platforms during technical transfer. Responsibilities include defining qualification approaches, governing change control, and ensuring validated state is maintained through implementation and release readiness.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of CSV experience in GMP-regulated biopharma env.
• Proven Validation Lead and approver for full CSV lifecycle.
• Hands-on validation with DeltaV or similar DCS in GMP biologics.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, execution, and approval of validation plans, IQ/OQ/PQ, risk assessments, and traceability matrices.
• Define risk-based validation strategy aligned with GAMP 5 and data integrity.
• Approve release decisions and manage change control to keep validated state.
• Collaborate with QA, Automation, IT/OT, Engineering, and Manufacturing.

Skills

CSV validation leadership

GxP compliance

DeltaV/DCS validation

Cross-functional collaboration

IQ/OQ/PQ documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, or related field

Tools

Kneat

ValGenesis

GAMP 5 guidance

Change control systems

Job description

The CSV Lead owns the risk-based validation strategy, deliverable approval, and release governance for the GxP computerized systems supporting a greenfield clinical biologics drug substance facility in Foster City. The role serves as the Validation Lead and validation approver for a new DeltaV process control system, a new Client-X manufacturing execution system, and a process knowledge management platform supporting technical transfer.

Systems in Scope

• DeltaV Process Control System: Process control, batch execution, and alarm and event functionality for manufacturing equipment and associated utilities.
• Client-X Manufacturing Execution System: Electronic batch records, master batch record and recipe management, exception handling, and review by exception.
• Process Knowledge Management: Recipe, process definition, and critical quality parameter management in support of technical transfer.
• Interfaces: Validation of GMP data flows between process control, manufacturing execution, laboratory, and enterprise systems.
• Key Responsibilities: Serve as the designated Validation Lead and CSV approver for all validation deliverables, including validation plans, specifications, risk assessments, traceability matrices, qualification protocols, discrepancies, and validation summary reports.
• Own the risk-based validation strategy in alignment with GAMP 5, Computer Software Assurance, 21 CFR Part 11, EU GMP Annex 11, data integrity/ALCOA+ expectations, and client's CSV procedures.
• Own software categorization and configured library reuse decisions for the process control system, and determine with documented justification where supplier qualification, integrator FAT/SAT, and prior-deployment evidence may be leveraged within the risk-based testing strategy.
• Define the qualification approach for the DeltaV PCSD library, leveraging Emerson-provided standard library documentation and testing evidence for unmodified module classes, and requiring documented design, impact assessment, and risk-based testing for client-modified or custom library objects, with library version control maintained under change control.
• Participate in requirements, design, and risk assessment workshops, and govern change control and change impact/regression assessments so the validated state is maintained throughout implementation.
• Define and approve the integration qualification approach for data flows across process control, manufacturing execution, laboratory, and enterprise systems, and sequence integration testing against equipment availability and project milestones.
• Make and document release-readiness decisions, ensuring qualification evidence, open discrepancies, periodic review status, and training status support GMP use.
• Maintain alignment to the integrated project schedule, coordinate with the CQV workstream so CSV and equipment qualification activities are sequenced correctly, and elevate validation risks and schedule impacts to project leadership.
• Partner with Quality Assurance, Automation, Engineering, IT/OT Infrastructure, Manufacturing, System Owners, and service providers to resolve validation issues, and sustain validation ownership after go-live through periodic review and change control.
• Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline, with 15+ years of CSV experience in a GMP-regulated biopharmaceutical environment.
• Demonstrated experience as a Validation Lead and approver for GxP computerized systems through a full validation lifecycle, including greenfield or major capital projects.
• Hands‑on validation experience with DeltaV or comparable distributed control systems in GMP biologics manufacturing, including batch, recipe, phase, and ISA‑88 library qualification, and qualification of standard (e.g., Emerson PCSD) versus site‑modified libraries.
• Experience validating a manufacturing execution system, including electronic batch records, master batch record and recipe qualification, and review by exception.
• Working knowledge of GAMP 5, Computer Software Assurance, 21 CFR Part 11, EU GMP Annex 11, and data integrity/ALCOA+ principles, with practical experience applying risk‑based testing and supplier leverage.
• Experience authoring, reviewing, and approving the full CSV deliverable set: validation plans, URS, FRS, design/configuration specifications, risk assessments, traceability matrices, IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, discrepancies, and validation summary reports.
• Experience with electronic validation/document management platforms (Kneat, ValGenesis, or equivalent) and GMP change control systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to drive decisions across Quality, Automation, IT/OT, Engineering, and Manufacturing.
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience validating knowledge management, recipe management, or technical transfer platforms.
• Experience defining and defending supplier leverage strategies with Quality, including vendor validation assessments and testing gap assessments.
• Experience validating integrations across control, execution, and enterprise layers, including end‑to‑end testing across system boundaries.
• Experience qualifying cloud‑hosted or SaaS‑delivered GxP systems, including hosting model evaluation.

The salary range provided for this contract role represents our good faith estimate for this position. Within the range, individual offers will vary based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, location and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process (W2 or C2C). In addition to compensation, the company provides eligible W2 employees with a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package.

I.T. Solutions, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.