Sr. Engineer, Digital Systems Quality Assurance

Planet Pharma Group; Bridgewater Township (NJ); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma is seeking a Senior Associate, Digital Systems Quality Assurance (Contractor) to provide GxP quality oversight and hands-on validation support for a global portfolio of computerized systems and digital platforms.

The role partners with IT, Digital Quality, and cross-functional teams to ensure systems are validated, compliant, and operational per 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, and EMA Draft Annex 22.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Minimum 7 years of GxP computerized system validation experience in FDA-regulated industry.
• Knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11 and Eudralex Annex 11 with electronic records/audit trails.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support end-to-end GxP computerized system validation with plan & RTM, aligned with CSA & ISPE GAMP 5.
• Apply risk-based validation approaches considering system complexity and patient safety impact.
• Maintain validation lifecycle docs for enterprise, clinical and lab systems.
• Evaluate changes for revalidation scope and author periodic reviews.
• Develop and review SOPs, WIs, and validation deliverables meeting ALCOA+ data integrity.

Skills

GxP validation

21 CFR Part 11

ISPE GAMP 5

AI/ML validation

Veeva Vault

ServiceNow

Qlik

Entra ID

Education

BSc in Life Sciences

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Veeva Vault (QMS/RIM/MedComms)

ServiceNow (GxP modules)

Qlik

Entra ID

Job description

Position Summary

The Senior Associate, Digital Systems Quality Assurance (Contractor) is responsible for providing GxP quality oversight and hands-on validation support for the global portfolio of computerized systems and digital platforms. This role partners closely with IT, Digital Quality, and cross-functional business teams to ensure that enterprise GxP systems — including Quality Management Systems (QMS), clinical and laboratory systems, enterprise platforms, and emerging AI/ML-enabled applications — are validated, compliant, and operationally sound in accordance with 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, EMA Draft Annex 22, FDA Computer Software Assurance (CSA) principles, and ISPE GAMP 5 guidance.

Continues to expand its AI-enabled digital capabilities, this role will play a critical part in establishing and executing compliant validation practices for AI/ML-embedded GxP systems, ensuring that quality, patient safety, and data integrity are maintained in alignment with evolving regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support end-to-end GxP computerized system validation, including Validation Plans, User Requirements Specifications (URS), Functional/Design Specifications, IQ/OQ/PQ protocols, Traceability Matrices (RTM), and Validation Summary Reports (VSRs), in alignment with FDA CSA principles and ISPE GAMP 5 guidance.
• Apply risk-based validation approaches to right-size effort commensurate with system complexity, intended use, product quality and patient safety impact.
• Maintain validation lifecycle documentation for Enterprise GxP systems (e.g. Veeva Vault Quality, Veeva Medical, Veeva RIM, ServiceNow, Tracelink), clinical systems (e.g. EDC, IRT, eCOA, eTMF), and analytical/lab systems (e.g. LIMS, CMMS, EMS — in compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 and EU Annex 11.
• Evaluate change control to determine revalidation scope, author periodic reviews for validated systems; and maintain the validated state throughout the system lifecycle.
• Author, review, and approve GxP documentation including SOPs, Work Instructions, and validation deliverables; ensure all documentation meets ALCOA+ data integrity principles.
• Author or review intended use documents with input sample space characterization; define risk-based acceptance criteria — no lower than the performance of the process being replaced — with process SME ownership; implement test data independence controls (access-controlled repository, audit trail, staff separation) to prevent hold‑out test set exposure during model development.
• Evaluate whether changes to the model, system, or physical inputs require retest and fully document any decision not to retest; define and track drift metrics for input sample space adherence and model output quality, escalating deviations per EMA Draft Annex 22 and FDA CSA expectations.
• Design and maintain HITL oversight procedures for AI-assisted GMP decisions: define reviewer qualifications, author review SOPs, maintain per-output records, and monitor operator agreement and override rates; support explainability assessments (e.g., SHAP values, LIME, heat maps) during acceptance testing where applicable.
• Conduct or support supplier qualification assessments for GxP system vendors, including review of audit reports, vendor questionnaires, Quality/Technical Agreements, and regulatory submission support documentation.
• For AI/ML vendor-supplied models: assess supplier test data independence practices (access logs, repository controls, staff separation) and review vendor-held training, validation, and testing documentation per regulated user obligations under Draft Annex 22 Section 2.2.
• Maintain the GxP computerized system portfolio in a constant state of inspection readiness; serve as subject matter expert during FDA, EMA, and other regulatory agency inspections covering computerized system validation.

Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of GxP computerized system validation experience in the FDA-regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with a demonstrated track record of end-to-end lifecycle management across enterprise, clinical, and/or laboratory systems.
• In-depth knowledge of 21 CFR Part 11 and Eudralex Volume 4 Annex 11, with practical experience applying electronic records, electronic signature, audit trail, and access control requirements to validated GxP systems.
• Strong working knowledge of ISPE GAMP 5 principles — including software categorization (Categories 1-5), risk-based lifecycle validation, and supplier assessment — combined with demonstrated understanding of FDA Computer Software Assurance (CSA) guidance and right-sized validation strategy definition.
• Hands-on experience validating enterprise GxP systems; direct experience with one or more of the following strongly preferred: Veeva Vault (QMS, RIM, MedComms), ServiceNow (GxP modules), Qlik, or Entra ID.
• Working knowledge of Clinical Systems (e.g., EDC, IRT, eTMF, CTMS) and/or QC Laboratory Systems (e.g., LIMS, CDS, ELN) validation principles, including experience with on-premise, SaaS, and cloud-hosted system qualification.
• Experience supporting GxP validation or quality oversight of AI/ML-enabled computerized systems, including familiarity with AI model classification (static vs. dynamic, deterministic vs. probabilistic) and criticality assessment based on direct impact to patient safety, product quality, or data integrity, in alignment with EMA Draft Annex 22.
• Working knowledge of AI model lifecycle controls, including intended use documentation with input sample space characterization, test data independence requirements (access-controlled repositories, audit trail, staff separation), and acceptance criteria that are no lower than the performance of the process being replaced.
• Familiarity with human-in-the-loop (HITL) oversight design for AI-assisted GMP decisions and production monitoring concepts including input sample space drift detection; experience reviewing supplier-held AI training, validation, and test data independence documentation as part of vendor qualification activities.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of GxP computerized system validation experience in the FDA-regulated pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with a demonstrated track record of end-to-end lifecycle management across enterprise, clinical, and/or laboratory systems.
• Demonstrated experience supporting regulatory inspections and audit readiness activities.
• Experience with quality systems processes including Change Control, Deviation management, CAPA, and Supplier Quality.

Pay Range: $858-63/hr *based on experience