Senior Associate

Reference: 631363Posted: 2026-09-30Location: Thousand Oaks, CACompany: Planet Pharma GroupContact: ApplicationsEmail: View email address on click.appcast.io PR Range: 19-26/hr DOESenior Associate Position for High-thoughput TeamSeeking an external worker to join our Pivotal Drug Product Technologies Group as Process Development Senior Associate in Thousand Oaks, CA. This group is responsible for late-stage drug product formulation and fill/finish process development for large molecule modalities (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), fusion proteins, etc.). The Senior Associate will work closely with the automation team responsible for the technical aspects of enabling automation and advancing drug product commercialization.Responsibilities include:* Plan and execute studies to characterize and enable implementation of new technologies that advance state-of-the art automation, high throughput screening and analytical capabilities.* Plan and execute studies to characterize drug product formulations and processes* Effectively communicate and collaborate with the colleagues inside the automation team to coordinate, organize and execute studies* Evaluate product attributes through analytical testing, e.g. measurement of pH, conductivity, osmolality, protein concentration, SEC, CEX, subvisible and visible particle characterization.* Apply fundamental scientific and engineering principles (chemistry, kinetics, statistics, etc.) to solve challenges* Participate in data management initiatives, such as integration of data from lab instruments with Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) to streamline and automate data collection* Author/review technical documents, such as technical presentations, protocols, and reports.* Actively involve and support safety and compliance initiatives in the lab, including resolution of safety observationsPreferred Qualifications:* Prior knowledge or industry experience (1+ years) of pharmaceutical/biotechnology process development and protein handling and processing esp. formulation development and Drug Product unit operations, e.g. UF/DF, filling, lyophilization* Hands-on experience in executing protein characterization techniques, i.e. SEC-UHPLC or CEX-UHPLC, concentration measurement via UV-Vis, pH, viscosity and other analytical testing.* Basic understanding of, or prior experience with, automated and high-throughput laboratory systems, including liquid-handling platforms and analytical instruments.* Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, keep accurate records, follow instructions/SOPs, and comply with company policies* Critical thinking, problem solving and independent research skills* Good organizational skills with strong attention to detail* Ability to elevate relevant issues to project lead and line-management* Selfmotivation, adaptability andapositive attitude with enthusiasm to learn new techniques* Ability to work independently and as part of a team with internal and external partners* Ability to participate and work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic and highly matrixed team environmentBasic Qualifications:* Bachelors degree (with 2+ yrs of industry experience) or masters degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or related subject area with biotechnology or pharmaceutical background.* Familiarity with protein handling and processing through biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience