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Gene Therapy Clinical Scientist

Employer
Pfizer
Location
Sanford, North Carolina
Start date
May 12, 2022

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Why Patients Need You

Whether you are involved in the design and development of manufacturing processes for products or supporting maintenance and reliability, engineering is vital to making sure customers and patients have the medicines they need, when they need them. Working with our innovative engineering team, you'll help bring medicines to the world even faster by imagining what’s possible and taking action.

As a member of the Gene Technical Support Team located in Sanford, NC, the Process Engineer will play a pivotal role in the design, start-up, and verification of new clinical projects. The incumbent will focus on supporting the Gene Therapy facility process transfers and process validation. The incumbent works as part of a team to perform scientific, operational and process engineering tasks as they relate to technology transfer, scale-up operations, capital projects and routine manufacturing support. The incumbent should have the cross-functional scientific ability/skills/knowledge to work in any of the clinical production areas including upstream/recovery, purification and or drug product.

Although the incumbent may be hired to work primarily in a particular area, they are expected to have the scientific acumen to quickly adapt to cross-functional training as needed to advance pipeline projects.

The incumbent works with some direct supervision and is responsible for the executing the design, optimization, implementation, troubleshooting, scale-up, tracking and reporting of a variety of manufacturing processes for clinical and launch campaigns of microbial and conjugate antigen programs. The incumbent must also be able to maintain GMP documentation essential and documenting the manufacture of clinical grade material. The incumbent must comply with applicable safety, occupational health, loss prevention and environmental requirements.

What You Will Achieve

Working with Pfizer’s dynamic Tech Op's team, you will play a critical role in developing and modifying process formulations, methods and controls to meet quality standards. Your production engineering skills will help in recommending and implementing improvements, modifications or additions that will help in solving problems. You will review product requirements in terms of product development compatibility and help Pfizer determine optimum costs and schedules of production.

How You Will Achieve It

Participate in clinical product transfer, production and capital projects in a technical capacity. Perform technical transfer and process engineering activities by working with senior level colleagues and supervision to implement processes in the manufacturing areas. This may include assisting in technical transfer of processes from development laboratories and small-scale pilot areas into the clinical production areas, as well as technical transfer from clinical to commercial facilities.

As candidates progress through the research pipeline from development through Phase III clinical production, the incumbent will work with internal and external development colleagues to map processes to the manufacturing facilities. This includes the following which may be performed in collaboration with or guidance from senior level colleagues:

  • Provide process engineering knowledge in process design from initial design specifications through implementation including testing during engineering projects. Collaborating with the Site, Engineering & Maintenance (SEM) department and outside engineering firm personnel will be critical to successful outcomes. Assist in developing new process procedures (i.e. CIP/SIP paths, WFI flush, blowdown, waste removal, stat paths) and review closely with SEM automation team and Technical Operations team. Perform calculations to ensure correct equipment sizes are in place for new processes. Assist in procuring process equipment. Develop process flow diagrams for illustrating critical process and material flow.

  • Review, recommend and execute process improvements and optimizations to existing processes with engineering principles (i.e. SIP/CIP optimization, cycle time reduction, equipment efficiency, PAT). Analyze root causes of process problems including but not limited to equipment failure, instrument malfunction, automation changes, and recommend technical solutions. Develops guides and executes implementation of solutions to complex process engineering problems.

  • Understand and provide input to the development of detailed process flow diagrams and step-by-step process fits of unit operations. Create, edit and maintain SOPs, Master Batch Records and Compounding Records needed for new processes within the approved QA document management system. Lead the revision process of documents as they evolve during the technical transfer and development process. Track approval of new and revised documents through the QA document approval process.

  • Collaborate with development personnel during engineering practice runs to introduce a variety of product candidate processes into clinical production areas through effective process scale-up and troubleshooting activities. This includes adjusting process parameters as necessary during engineering runs and pursuit of any necessary equipment/automation refinements to ensure optimized process performance prior to demonstration runs. Ensure that the process adjustments are incorporated into the appropriate final version of SOPs, Master Batch Records and Compounding Records. Provide suggestions for innovative approaches to scale-up issues related to new projects. Incumbent must be able to recognize unique differences among different antigen processes and contribute to the scientific team that works through the issues encountered. Incumbent is aware of new process parameters co-developed with colleagues and is able to introduce them into the process with area champion or supervisor input.

  • Maintain careful and accurate records of process and analytical data and findings on development projects. Utilize data and findings to contribute to meetings and make presentations on specific process issues. Provide observations/comments during schedule planning and process development meetings. During demonstration and clinical production campaigns, the incumbent will function as the process subject matter expert and will execute batch production and provide leadership to the manufacturing teams. The incumbent will also perform real-time troubleshooting of equipment and process operations to ensure successful batch completion.

  • Maintain equipment and automation proficiency. Execute equipment preparation and operation in controlled and classified areas. Work with colleagues and available resources/literature to solve problems with input from area champion or supervisor as needed. Operate the following types of process equipment: fermenters, recovery equipment, ultrafiltration/diafiltration skids, depth filtration equipment, chromatography skids, fixed and portable vessels, lyophilizers, and cleaning equipment. Submit samples to QC and enter sample information into the approved quality laboratory information management system.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

  • BS in Engineering or Science required

  • Minimum of 7 years of experience in product development, manufacturing science and technology, sterilization, process validation, and/or process engineering

  • 5 years of experience working in a pharmaceutical manufacturing site

  • Familiarization with global regulations on drugs, medical devices, combination products or validation / qualification requirements

  • Excellent communication skills and attention to details

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Degrees in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, and Biomanufacturing sciences preferred.

  • Master’s or PhD degree in science or engineering preferred

  • Experience with aseptically filled or terminally sterilized small volume and / or large volume parenteral products

  • 10 or more years of experience in product development, manufacturing science and technology, sterilization, process validation, and/or process engineering

  • 7 or more years of experience in a pharmaceutical manufacturing site

Other Job Details:

  • Last Date to Apply for Job: May 26th, 2022

  • Relocation Assistance Eligible

Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Engineering

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