Scientist, Drug Product Development

AstraZeneca • Gaithersburg, MD

5d • $92,252 - $138,378 • Hybrid

About The Position

AstraZeneca is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Scientist, Drug Product Development to support drug product development activities for lentiviral vector (LVV) programs within our Cell Therapy and Genetic Medicines portfolio. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of robust drug product formulations and processes that enable clinical advancement of ex vivo and in vivo cell and gene therapy programs.
In this hands-on laboratory-based role, the Scientist will be responsible for designing, executing, analyzing, and reporting drug product development studies supporting formulation development, fill-finish processes, characterization, stability assessments, and technology transfer activities. The position requires close collaboration with Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, and external partners to deliver high-quality scientific data and development packages.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, or related scientific discipline with 0-2 years of relevant industry experience; OR M.S. with 4-6 years of relevant industry experience.
• Hands-on experience in drug product development for viral vectors, cell therapies, biologics, vaccines, or related modalities.
• Experience designing and executing laboratory studies independently.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets and generate clear scientific conclusions.
• Experience working in cross-functional development teams.
• Working knowledge of one or more of the following areas: Formulation development, UF/DF operations, Drug product process development, Fill-finish processes, Container closure systems, Particle characterization, Stability study design and execution, Viral vector or biologics manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of cGMP principles and quality systems.
• Familiarity with development documentation and regulatory expectations for biologics, cell therapies, or gene therapies.
• Strong experimental design and laboratory execution skills.
• Excellent technical writing and scientific reporting abilities.
• Effective verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, matrixed environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting technical reports and regulatory documentation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and document formulation development studies for LVV and other viral vector drug products.
• Evaluate formulation components and process conditions to improve vector stability, potency, and product quality.
• Generate scientific data to support selection of platform and program-specific formulations.
• Analyze study results and present findings to cross-functional teams.
• Plan and perform laboratory and pilot-scale drug product studies supporting fill-finish process development.
• Support evaluation of filling processes, container closure systems, storage conditions, and shipping configurations.
• Execute studies related to freeze-thaw performance, hold-time assessments, and process robustness.
• Participate in development and optimization of drug product manufacturing processes.
• Design and execute stability studies to support product development and regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with Analytical Development to assess critical quality attributes, including potency, infectivity, particle characteristics, and product integrity.
• Interpret experimental results and provide data-driven recommendations.
• Support development of stability-indicating strategies and shelf-life assessments.
• Support drug product technology transfer activities to internal manufacturing sites and external CDMOs.
• Generate development data and documentation required for scale-up and process transfer.
• Participate in troubleshooting activities during manufacturing campaigns and process implementation.
• Assist in development of scale-down models and comparability studies as needed.
• Author protocols, technical reports, development summaries, risk assessments, and manufacturing support documents.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records in accordance with company and quality requirements.
• Contribute to preparation of CMC documentation and technical sections for regulatory submissions, including IND-enabling packages.
• Ensure activities are conducted in compliance with applicable quality systems and regulatory expectations.
• Work closely with Upstream and Downstream Process Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, and Regulatory teams to advance development programs.
• Communicate scientific findings clearly through written reports, presentations, and team discussions.
• Contribute technical expertise during project planning and development strategy discussions.
• Support problem-solving and investigation activities across development programs.
• Stay current with emerging drug product and formulation technologies relevant to viral vectors and cell therapy products.
• Identify opportunities to improve laboratory workflows, experimental approaches, and development processes.
• Contribute to implementation of new technologies and best practices within the organization.

Benefits

• Qualified retirement programs
• Paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)
• Health coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree