Are you ready to turn complex cell culture science into robust, commercial-scale reality that delivers lifesaving medicines to people with rare and devastating conditions? Do you thrive at the interface of lab experimentation and manufacturing, where your decisions directly shape yield, reliability, and speed to patients?
As an MSAT Specialist, Cell Culture, you will be a core driver of process robustness and technical excellence from bench to plant. You will design and execute data-rich studies, scale up new products, and de-risk commercial operations through smart experimentation, rigorous analysis, and decisive problem solving. Working closely with manufacturing, quality, and regulatory partners, you will translate insights into action and ensure our processes stay reliable, compliant, and ready for what comes next.
Accountabilities:
- Lead, design and execute lab studies to support the process robustness, optimization and characterization of the manufacturing processes, while assessing continual improvements, new material and technology introductions, feasibility assessments that support yield/process improvement initiatives and cost of goods improvement projects that can be replicated robustly at commercial scale, in line with regulatory and commercial manufacturing requirements, including minimizing best practices.
- Support large-scale manufacturing scale-up activities and New Product Introductions including leading, designing and executing studies such as satellite studies from large scale engineering and technical batches to increase process knowledge, provide recommendations and problem solving to increase probabilities of technical success, while minimizing technical risks.
- Support the design and execution of experiments which support process investigations, and resolution of process deviations, root cause analysis, and CAPAs to support commercial operations, and studies in support of regulatory changes.
- Analyse complex datasets, interpret results, and prepare detailed technical reports and presentations to cross-functional teams.
- Generate documentation protocols and lead the execution of plant supporting studies and technical studies on the manufacturing floor at commercial scale.
- Apply statistical tools such as Design of Experiments (DOE) using software such as jmp to drive robust experiments and data-driven technical assessments.
- The candidate must possess critical thinking skills, be entrepreneurial with an ability to integrate data and information to solve complex problems and to maintain robust and improved manufacturing processes. Effectively communicate complex ideas to audiences with varying degrees of knowledge.
- Maintain knowledge and history of the products and process throughout the entire commercial lifecycle, inclusive of development history.
- May be required to present/defend technical and scientific approaches in both written and verbal form, including during regulatory agency inspections or information requests.
- Ensure compliance with site EHS policy, cGMP and other business regulations and participate in risk assessments, audits, and incident investigations.
- May be required to work periodically out of normal business hours or participate in weekend rota to support ongoing lab studies.
Essential Skills/Experience:
- A degree in Life sciences or engineering subject area with experience in (bio)pharmaceutical manufacturing, development or process engineering:
- PhD preferred or M.Sc with > 3 years of experience
- Extensive technical knowledge of cell culture (with excellent aseptic technique) in either research or biopharmaceutical manufacturing roles in Technical, R&D, or Process Development.
- Deep technical understanding of cell culture methodologies, harvest technologies, and associated media/solution preparation and associated systems, and an understanding of fed-batch cell culture processes.
- Experience of the set-up and operation of equipment sets such as small-scale bioreactors, associated cell counting and metabolite analyser technologies.
- Working knowledge of cGMP/GLP requirements.
- Good interpersonal skills coupled with demonstrated ability to effectively work in a matrix organization, and in local group settings.
- Ability to develop, build, present and defend technical and scientific approaches in both written and verbal form.
- Excellent communication skills, and able to effectively influence across all levels of the organization both internal and external to Alexion.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Self-driven, able to prioritize, and to orchestrate multiple activities at once.
- Consistently demonstrate sound business judgment when making decisions.
- Ability to deal with ambiguity and changing priorities.
- Willingness to explore and adopt novel technologies to enhance process understanding and efficiency.
- Strong technical writing skills.
- Ability to travel up to 10%.
- The duties of this role are generally conducted in a lab environment. As is typical of a lab-based role, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to: lift/carry items in accordance with manual handling principles; work comfortably in a controlled environment with and around biological, infectious, and hazardous materials; gown/degown PPE; use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.
- Ability to travel up to 10%.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
- Experience with high-throughput cell culture systems such as Ambr250 is advantageous.
- Experience with statistical analysis and DoE.
- Experience with Process Analytical Technology (PAT) tools and implementation is beneficial.
- Familiarity with emerging technologies in bioprocessing, such as automation, digital lab solutions, and advanced data analytics, is advantageous.
Why AstraZeneca:
Here, your work is guided by the real experiences of people living with rare and devastating diseases, bringing purpose and urgency to every technical decision. You will collaborate in an environment that blends the agility of biotech with the scale and resources of a global leader—where unexpected teams get in the same room, challenge assumptions, and unleash bold thinking. We invest in cutting-edge science and empower you with autonomy, tailored development, and peers who value kindness alongside ambition. Your expertise in cell culture will directly strengthen reliable supply and help deliver transformative therapies to those who need them most.
Call to Action:
If you’re ready to own the science, shape robust commercial cell culture processes, and accelerate life-changing medicines to patients, step forward and make your impact with us today!
Date Posted
27-May-2026
Closing Date
02-Jun-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.
