vardaspace · El Segundo, California, United States · El Segundo, California, United States
<div class="content-intro"><h2><span data-contrast="none">About Varda</span></h2> <p>Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. <strong>Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.</strong></p> <p>From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind. </p> <p>Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. </p> <p>Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. </p> <p>Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.</p></div><h2><span data-contrast="none">About This Role</span></h2> <p><span data-contrast="auto">Our CMC team is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Principal Engineer, Pharma CMC Manufacturing & Tech Transfer to lead process transfer, CDMO qualification, pilot scale manufacturing, and GMP manufacturing oversight for Varda's crystallization and drug product pipeline. Reporting to the VP, CMC, this role owns the path from a lab-characterized process to a validated, transferable manufacturing package executed reliably across a network of external partners. This position requires close collaboration with Pharma R&D, Quality & Regulatory, and external CDMO partners to stand up and run the manufacturing network.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":120}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">This is an opportunity to build a CMC manufacturing function from the ground up — selecting and qualifying CDMO partners, executing technology transfer, running engineering & pilot scale batches, and ultimately delivering GMP clinical material — while helping shape how Varda's terrestrial and orbital manufacturing strategies come together.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":120}"> </span></p> <p><strong><span data-contrast="none"><span data-ccp-parastyle="heading 2">Responsibilities</span></span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{"335559738":280,"335559739":120,"335572079":6,"335572080":4,"335572081":6567967,"469789806":"single"}"> </span></p> <ul> <li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":504,"335559991":288,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"•","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Own technology transfer execution: translate R&D developed processes into robust, CDMO-ready transfer packages</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":60}"> </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":504,"335559991":288,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"•","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead pilot plant production of material to support nonclinical development</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":60}"> </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="•" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":504,"335559991":288,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"•","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead selection, qualification, and ongoing management of CDMO partners across the manufacturing network (Crystallization, Fill-Finish, and DS Partner), including RFPs, technical due diligence, and capability assessments</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":60}"> </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="•" data-font="Calibri" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":504,"335559991":288,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"•","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lead tech transfer of drug product fill-finish processes for the crystalline suspension, partnering with R&D on process- and product-specific technology transfer coordination</span><span data-ccp-props="{"335559739":60}"> </span></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-leveltext="•" data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":504,"335559991":288,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"•","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Negotiate and manage Manufacturing Services Agreements with CDMO partners, definin