UCB

Project Quality Lead, Engineering

UCB$148K — $194K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Engineering or related scientific field (or equivalent experience)
  • 10+ years in regulated quality, engineering quality, qualifications, or validation in pharma/biotech
  • Experience with large capital projects, specifically greenfield or major expansions
  • Strong knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices and regulatory requirements (FDA, EU)
  • Experience with commissioning, qualification, and vendor oversight
  • Familiarity with ASTM E2500 and ISPE Baseline Guide Volume 5 is a plus
  • Ability to assess risks and manage complex problems effectively

Responsibilities

  • Act as the quality partner across engineering workstreams from design to qualification
  • Ensure quality by design using a risk-based approach aligned with Good Manufacturing Practices
  • Review and approve key deliverables to provide quality oversight
  • Lead qualification activities for facilities, equipment, utilities, and systems
  • Ensure designs incorporate cleaning validation strategies
  • Oversee vendor quality through qualification, audits, and agreements
  • Develop and approve Standard Operating Procedures and controlled documents

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model, requiring at least 40% time in office
  • Opportunity for domestic and international travel (up to 20%)
  • Engagement in a pivotal role within a multi-billion-dollar project
  • Direct contribution to patient safety and regulatory readiness
  • Collaboration with global teams and cutting-edge biomanufacturing quality approaches
Full Job Description
We are looking for an Project Quality Lead, Engineering who is strategic, collaborative, and driven by impact to join our BioNexUS Program Team. This hybrid position (at least 40% of the time in office) is based in Atlanta, Georgia and requires up to 20% domestic & international travel.

About the role

You will operate in a pivotal leadership role within the BioNexUS project, UCB's multi-billion-dollar greenfield investment to build a next-generation biologics manufacturing facility in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Georgia (USA). This role is instrumental in ensuring that quality is embedded by design throughout the project lifecycle. Reporting to the BioNexUS Quality Lead, the position provides quality oversight for all engineering activities during design and execution, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, UCB standards, and project objectives. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape quality strategy and practices for a flagship UCB investment, contributing directly to patient safety, regulatory readiness, and the long-term success of UCB's U.S. biologics manufacturing footprint.

You will work with

As the quality authority for engineering disciplines, you will work closely with Engineering, Project Management, Manufacturing, Commissioning & Qualification, Quality functions, and external suppliers across the BioNexUS project, as well as with UCB's global functions. Together with BioNexUS Quality Lead and Quality Lead Digital, you will help shape UCB's future biomanufacturing quality approach. As part of the global Engineering Quality team, you will collaborate with peers across major CapEx projects and global Engineering Quality Leads to align and harmonize engineering quality standards and ways of working.

What you will do
  • Act as the quality partner across engineering workstreams (premises, equipment, utilities) from design through qualification.
  • Ensure quality by design using a phase-appropriate, risk-based approach aligned with current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements and UCB standards.
  • Review and approve key deliverables, including User Requirements Specifications, design documents, risk assessments, and commissioning and qualification strategies and reports, providing quality oversight.
  • Lead qualification activities (Installation, Operational, and Performance Qualification) for facilities, equipment, utilities, and systems.
  • Ensure designs incorporate cleaning validation strategies.
  • Oversee vendor quality , including qualification, audits, and agreements.
  • Develop and approve Standard Operating Procedures and controlled documents across engineering, validation, and lifecycle management.
  • Provide guidance on digital and automated solutions, ensuring compliance and data integrity.
  • Identify and manage quality and regulatory risks, ensuring timely mitigation (FDA, EMA).
  • Support inspection readiness and regulatory interactions (Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, and other health authorities).


Interested? For this position you'll need the following education, experience and skills
  • Master's degree in Engineering or a related scientific field (or equivalent experience).
  • 10+ years of experience in Good Practice regulated quality, engineering quality, qualification, or validation in pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing.
  • Experience supporting large capital projects (greenfield or major expansions preferred).
  • Strong knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practice and regulatory expectations (Food and Drug Administration, European Union).
  • Experience with commissioning, qualification, and vendor oversight.
  • Familiarity with American Society for Testing and Materials E2500, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering Baseline Guide Volume 5, and Good Automated Manufacturing Practice 5 is a plus.
  • Ability to assess risk, solve problems pragmatically, and manage complexity.
  • Strong understanding of digital, automated, and computerized systems and data integrity principles.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Proactive, structured, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.


The reasonably anticipated salary range for this position is $ 148,000-194,300 per year. The actual salary offered will take into account related knowledge, skills, experience and location among other factors and may fall outside the expected range.

Are you ready to 'go beyond' to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About UCB

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on creating value for people living with severe diseases in immunology and neurology. UCB aims to be the patient-preferred biotech leader by delivering medicines and solutions that improve lives. The company is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, with approximately 7,500 employees in over 40 countries. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB).
Learn more about UCB
Size
8,561 employees
Industry
Founded
1928
NASDAQ

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