Production Scientist
Location: Torrance, CA | Employment Type: Full-Time
At PolyPeptide Laboratories, Production Scientists sit at the critical intersection of science, manufacturing, and quality. This role is ideal for a scientist who thrives on translating small-scale R&D into robust, GMP-compliant large-scale manufacturing—and who wants real ownership over products, processes, and outcomes.
As a Production Scientist, you will lead manufacturing readiness, oversee GMP execution for assigned projects, and act as a technical authority during production. Your work directly impacts product quality, yield, timelines, and customer confidence.
What You’ll Do
You will own the end-to-end technical execution of GMP manufacturing projects, from scale-up through commercial production.
Core Responsibilities
Scale up R&D and pilot processes into GMP large-scale manufacturing
Serve as the production technical lead for assigned projects, with authority to approve GMP and validation documents without managerial sign-off
Author, review, and approve MBPRs, change controls, deviations, CAPAs, risk assessments, PPQ protocols, and validation documentation
Drive yield optimization, process improvements, and bottleneck analysis across unit operations
Provide real-time, on-floor technical decision-making during batch execution, including go/no-go decisions based on IPC results
Lead investigations (OOS, OOT, QIRM, RCI) using structured root-cause analysis tools and present findings to internal and external stakeholders
Support technology transfer activities, including comparability reports, CPP identification, and PPQ strategy
Collaborate cross-functionally with Production, QA, QC, PD, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Sales, and Project Management
Prepare and present weekly project update decks to leadership and customers
Mentor operators and team members on MBPR execution, unit operations, and GMP best practices
How You’ll Make an Impact
Act as a scientific decision-maker during GMP production
Influence manufacturing strategy, cost, yield, and robustness
Serve as a trusted technical partner to customers and regulators
Help build scalable, repeatable, high-quality peptide manufacturing processes
What We’re Looking For
Education
Advanced degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering, or a related field
GMP or pharmaceutical manufacturing training strongly preferred
Lean Six Sigma or GMP certifications are a plus
Experience
5+ years in GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing, MS&T, or production science
Peptide manufacturing experience strongly preferred
Proven ability to independently troubleshoot processes and equipment
Demonstrated success managing multiple projects in a regulated environment
Technical Skills
Solid understanding of SPPS GMP manufacturing
Proficiency with HPLC systems and cGMP processes
Data analysis experience (Minitab preferred)
Strong technical writing and documentation skills
Core Competencies
Strategic scientific judgment and decision-making
Quality and regulatory leadership
Complex problem solving
Cross-functional collaboration and influence
Why PolyPeptide Laboratories
At PolyPeptide Laboratories, you’ll work on highly technical, meaningful science that directly supports life-changing medicines. We offer real ownership, strong cross-functional collaboration, and the opportunity to influence how products are manufactured—not just execute them. Here, your expertise shapes processes, drives quality, and delivers therapies that make a real difference.
Salary: $115k-$130k
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.