Varda Space
Principal Engineer, Pharma CMC Manufacturing & Tech Transfer
$187K–$239K
El Segundo, California, United States · Principal · Full-time · Posted Oct 22, 2026
- Experience
- 10+ years required; 13+ years preferred.
- Education
- B.S. or M.S. in life sciences, chemical engineering, or related field.
- Visa sponsorship
- Must be a U.S. person permitted to access the company’s export-controlled technology without an export license: a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
About the job
Leads pharmaceutical CMC process transfer, CDMO qualification, pilot-scale production, and GMP manufacturing oversight for Varda’s drug product pipeline.
What you'll do
- Transfer R&D processes to CDMOs and lead partner selection, qualification, oversight, and manufacturing agreements.
- Lead pilot and engineering runs, oversee GMP campaigns through batch release, and establish an internal MS&T function as production grows.
- Coordinate with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and external partners on manufacturing controls, specifications, comparability, and regulatory filings.
What they ask for
- 10+ years of CMC manufacturing and/or technology transfer leadership experience advancing drug product programs to successful clinical trials.
- B.S. or M.S. in life sciences, chemical engineering, or a related field.
- Firm understanding of cGMP and FDA regulatory guidelines relevant to CMC manufacturing and tech transfer.
- Demonstrated experience managing external CDMO/CMO relationships, including technical oversight and contract negotiation.
Nice to have
- 13+ years of CMC manufacturing leadership, including process transfer and CDMO network management.
- Experience with crystallization or high-concentration suspension drug products, aseptic fill-finish, or establishing a CDMO network through GMP manufacturing.
Pay
$187,000 - $239,000/per year (base salary)
Tools
cGMP, FDA
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative