Staff Engineer, Process Systems

Vaxcyte; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaxcyte is seeking a Staff Engineer, Process Systems to lead engineering activities for advanced biologics systems, ensuring compliant, reliable operations across manufacturing facilities. You will coordinate with Process Development, MSAT, Supply Chain, Quality, and CDMOs to execute system installations, upgrades and validations.

The role emphasizes regulatory compliance, qualification strategies, and risk-based design to drive scalable, compliant manufacturing of Vaxcyte's products.

Qualifications

• Experience leading process systems for biologics manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements (cGMP, FDA, EMA).
• Experience with qualification/validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), FATs and SATs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage engineering activities for advanced biotechnological systems, including utilities, process equipment, automation systems, and facilities.
• Direct and manage validation initiatives ensuring compliance with cGMP, FDA, EMA and other regulatory bodies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and CDMOs to support new installations, system upgrades and ongoing operations.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Oversee project delivery, timelines, budgets and quality standards across multiple sites.

Skills

Process systems engineering

Biologics manufacturing

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance.

WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:

• RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
• AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
• LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
• MODEL EXCELLENCE: The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

As Vaxcyte's products progress towards late stage and commercialization, Vaxcyte is implementing dedicated biologics manufacturing facilities. This position will support all aspects of process systems engineering activities related to commercial Launch, and routine GMP Manufacturing to ensure the efficient and compliant production of Vaxcyte's products.

The Staff Engineer, Process Systems will work closely with Process Development, MSAT, Supply Chain, Quality, Project Management, Business Development, and Regulatory functions, as well as CDMOs. This role is responsible for leading and overseeing process systems-related activities for biologics manufacturing facilities, systems, and equipment.

As a technical leader within the field, the Staff Engineer, Process Systems ensures that all processes and systems comply with regulatory and company standards, contributes to the development of company concepts & principles and solves complex problems in creative and effective ways. The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to support new installations, system upgrades, and ongoing operations. Effective cross-functional teamwork and successful engagement with CDMOs are critical to success in this position. This position will report to the Director of Engineering & Facilities at Vaxcyte.

Essential Functions:

Process System Owner:

• Lead and manage all engineering activities for advanced biotechnological systems, including utilities, process equipment, automation systems, and facilities.
• Work on significant and unique issues where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangible variables and may impact future concepts, products or technologies.
• Review and approve process equipment documentation, such as protocols, test plans, reports, and other deliverables, ensuring alignment with company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments and design strategies to validate and optimize critical process parameters in compliance with industry standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Lead complex system and equipment inspections, including FATs (Factory Acceptance Tests), SATs (Site Acceptance Tests), and IQ/OQ/PQ (Installation Qualification/Operational Qualification/Performance Qualification), ensuring precision and compliance.
• Lead engineering feasibility studies, conceptual & basic design activities for projects across a range of products and sites.

Validation:

• Direct and manage validation initiatives, ensuring compliance with cGMP, FDA, EMA, and other applicable regulatory agencies.
• Oversee the review and approval of validation protocols, plans, and reports, ensuring their alignment with industry standards and ensuring robust and reliable processes.
• Analyze complex validation data to identify critical trends, continuously improving the reliability, efficiency, and compliance of validated systems.

Project Management:

• Create formal networks with key decision makers and serves as an external spokesperson for the organization with CDMO and supplier partners.
• Oversees the activities of a project and teams involved in cross-functional engineering projects from conception through completion, balancing complex timelines, budget constraints, resource allocation, and quality standards.
• Collaborate effective with senior project managers, cross-functional teams, contractors, and external vendors to coordinate, prioritize, and execute engineering activities.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure project deliverables are met within scope and timeline while maintaining focus on compliance, quality, and cost-e