Sr Associate

Actalent; Thousand Oaks (CA); On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent, Inc. seeks a Process Development Senior Associate to advance late-stage drug product formulation and fill/finish processes for large molecules.

You will collaborate with an automation-focused group to enable high-throughput screening, analytical capabilities, and data management in a fast-paced lab. The role requires hands-on protein characterization, familiarity with UF/DF, filling, lyophilization, and strong documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 2 years of industry experience in biotech/pharma required.
• Experience with protein handling and processing in biotech/pharma.
• Hands-on protein characterization techniques (SEC-UHPLC, CEX-UHPLC, UV-Vis).
• Familiarity with automated/high-throughput lab systems and liquid-handling platforms.
• Ability to learn new lab techniques quickly and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong documentation and SOP compliance.
• Ability to elevate technical issues to project leads.
• Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute experimental studies to enable automation and high-throughput screening.
• Design studies to characterize drug product formulations and fill/finish processes.
• Coordinate with automation team to align timelines and objectives.
• Evaluate product attributes via analytical testing (pH, conductivity, osmolality, SEC/CEX).
• Apply chemistry, kinetics, and statistics to troubleshoot and interpret data.
• Integrate data from instruments into ELN for streamlined reporting.
• Prepare and review protocols, reports, and presentations.
• Ensure safety and SOP adherence in the lab.
• Maintain meticulous experimental records and comply with guidelines.
• Collaborate with internal/external partners and escalate issues to leadership.
• Remain productive in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Skills

Protein handling

Automation familiarity

Analytical testing

Data interpretation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree with 2 years' industry experience

Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology

Tools

UHPLC

HPLC instrumentation

ELN integration

Job description

Job Title: Process Development Senior Associate High-Throughput Drug Product Technologies

Job Description

This role is a Senior Associate position within a high-throughput drug product technologies team focused on late-stage drug product formulation and fill/finish process development for large molecule modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and fusion proteins. The Process Development Senior Associate will closely collaborate with an automation-focused group to enable advanced laboratory automation, high-throughput screening, and analytical capabilities that support drug product commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute experimental studies to characterize and enable implementation of new technologies that advance state-of-the-art automation, high-throughput screening, and analytical capabilities for drug product development.
• Design and perform studies to characterize drug product formulations and fill/finish processes for large molecule modalities, ensuring robust and scalable process performance.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues in the automation team to coordinate, organize, and execute studies, aligning timelines, resources, and technical objectives.
• Evaluate critical product attributes through analytical testing, including measurement of pH, conductivity, osmolality, protein concentration, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), cation-exchange chromatography (CEX), and subvisible and visible particle characterization.
• Apply fundamental scientific and engineering principles, such as chemistry, kinetics, and statistics, to troubleshoot issues, interpret data, and solve complex technical challenges in formulation and process development.
• Participate in data management initiatives, including integration of data from laboratory instruments with Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN), to streamline, standardize, and automate data collection and reporting.
• Author and review technical documents, including study protocols, technical reports, and presentations, ensuring clear documentation of experimental design, results, and conclusions.
• Support and actively engage in laboratory safety and compliance initiatives, including identification and resolution of safety observations and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Maintain accurate, detailed experimental records, follow established SOPs, and comply with all relevant policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, contributing to project discussions, sharing results, and elevating relevant technical or operational issues to project leadership when needed.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly matrixed team environment, balancing multiple tasks and priorities while meeting project timelines.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree with 2 years of industry experience, or a masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related discipline with a biotechnology or pharmaceutical background.
• Industry experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology process development with familiarity in protein handling and processing, particularly formulation development and drug product unit operations such as ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF), filling, and lyophilization (preferred: 1 year or more).
• Hands-on experience executing protein characterization techniques, including SEC-UHPLC or CEX-UHPLC, concentration measurement via UV-Vis, pH measurement, viscosity assessment, and other analytical testing methods.
• Familiarity with protein handling and processing gained through biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Basic understanding of, or prior experience with, automated and high-throughput laboratory systems, including liquid-handling platforms and analytical instruments.
• Ability to learn new laboratory techniques quickly, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and keep accurate and organized experimental records.
• Capability to follow instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs) while complying with applicable policies and guidelines.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct independent research and interpret complex data sets.
• Good organizational skills and strong attention to detail in planning, executing, and documenting experiments.
• Ability to identify and elevate relevant technical or operational issues to project leads and line management in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
• Ability to participate and contribute effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly matrixed team environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude, with enthusiasm for learning and applying new techniques and technologies.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with automation and process development colleagues and for preparing clear technical presentations, protocols, and reports.
• Experience with data management initiatives, including integration of laboratory instrument outputs into Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN), is highly beneficial.
• Experience with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrumentation and related analytical workflows.
• Comfort working with automated and high-throughput laboratory systems, including liquid-handling platforms and a variety of analytical instruments.
• Ability to manage multiple experiments and priorities concurrently while maintaining quality and compliance standards.

Work Environment

The role is based in a laboratory environment within a high-throughput drug product technologies group that focuses on late-stage formulation and fill/finish process development for large molecule therapeutics. The team uses a range of analytical and automation technologies, including HPLC/UPLC systems (SEC-UHPLC, CEX-UHPLC), UV-Vis spectrophotometers, instruments for measuring pH, conductivity, osmolality, and viscosity, and platforms for subvisible and visible particle characterization. Automated and high-throughput liquid-handling systems and integrated analytical instruments are central to the workflow, with data captured and managed through Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN). The work is conducted in a fast-paced, dynamic, and highly matrixed environment that emphasizes collaboration, safety, and compliance. Team members are expected to follow laboratory safety procedures and SOPs, maintain meticulous documentation, and adapt to evolving technologies and project priorities. Attire typically aligns with standard laboratory practices, including appropriate lab coats and personal protective equipment as required for safe operation in the lab.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Thousand Oaks, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.00 - $27.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long-term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Thousand Oaks, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 12, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Thousand Oaks,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.