

New · posted Oct 15
AstraZeneca · Pharmaceuticals
Quality Assurance At-the-Source Specialist, Cell Therapy
- Rockville, MD
- On-site
- Full-time
- Associate & Specialist
Closes Oct 28, 2026 · 14 days left
The role
Job Profile Description
Provides independent, visible Quality Assurance leadership at the source of cell therapy manufacturing. This is a shift-based role scheduled for four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday. Partners with Manufacturing and supporting functions to apply risk-based quality judgment, resolve issues within established frameworks, and support reliable, compliant execution. Operates independently across qualified routine and moderately complex situations, influences cross-functional decisions, and strengthens quality culture through practical coaching, clear communication, and disciplined follow-through. Specific quality-system responsibilities and approval authorities are defined through applicable procedures, qualifications, and delegated authority.
This is a shift-based role scheduled four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday.
What you need
Typical Accountabilities
- Maintain a consistent Quality presence in manufacturing areas and provide real-time, practical guidance that supports safe, compliant, and reliable execution.
- Support manufacturing unit operations from a Quality Assurance perspective and assist to resolve manufacturing events and/or quality events in real-time
- Independently assess routine and moderately complex quality situations, integrate available facts and risk considerations, and determine appropriate action or escalation within established standards.
- Partner across functions to clarify requirements, align decisions, remove barriers, and sustain appropriate Quality independence.
- Recognize emerging risks, recurring issues, and performance gaps; communicate implications and recommend proportionate actions.
- Lead defined problem-solving and improvement activities, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, clearly documented, and carried through to effective resolution.
- Coach colleagues on quality thinking, disciplined execution, data integrity, contamination control, and right-first-time behaviors.
- Contribute quality judgment to operational meetings, shift handoffs, readiness discussions, and cross-functional decision forums.
- Manage multiple priorities independently, communicate changes in risk or urgency, and maintain reliable follow-through in a fast-paced patient-focused environment.
- Support inspection readiness and represent Quality confidently within the scope of training, experience, and delegated authority.
- Work a shift-based schedule of four days per week, Wednesday through Saturday, and support occasional off-hours or holidays as needed for manufacturing operations and patient commitments.
- The role may require additional responsibilities as necessary.
Essential
- Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, Quality, or a related technical field with relevant GMP quality or manufacturing experience; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered in accordance with the approved job catalogue.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently in a regulated environment and apply cGMP principles to real-time operational decisions.
- Sound risk-based judgment, including the ability to distinguish routine issues from situations requiring broader escalation.
- Ability to lead defined problem-solving, synthesize facts, recommend actions, and communicate decisions clearly.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration and influencing skills, including respectful challenge and practical coaching.
- Ability to organize competing priorities and deliver high-quality work with limited day-to-day supervision.
- Ability to gown and work in controlled manufacturing environments.
- Ability to work the established four-day Wednesday-through-Saturday shift schedule and meet the additional scheduling requirements of the role.
Desirable
- Experience in biologics, aseptic processing, advanced therapies, or autologous cell therapy manufacturing.
- Working knowledge of international cell therapy GxP regulatory frameworks, regulations, and guidance.
- Experience with digital manufacturing, document management, learning, or quality systems.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from $100,880 - $151,321. Our positions offer eligibility for multiple incentives an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Date Posted
14-Oct-2026
Closing Date
27-Oct-2026
Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.
Pay and benefits
$100,880 – $151,321 a year
Employer providedShort-term incentive bonuses
Equity-based awards
Retirement programs
Paid time off
Health coverage
Dental and vision coverage
Where you'll work
Rockville, MDOn-siteOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
More jobs in Rockville, MDJob intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · October 15, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 61% above the US median for Quality Assurance roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Associate & Specialist roles in the US157 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $100,880 | — | $151,321 |
| All US (middle half) | $59,000 | $78,500 | $94,000 |
This role: AstraZeneca's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Quality Assurance roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, October 15, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Quality Assurance
The general path across 845 open Quality Assurance roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not AstraZeneca's own promotion track.
Career resources on Quality Assurance
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 29 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Collaboration and leadership9
- GMP and compliance4
- Documentation and SOPs3
- Quality systems and risk1
- Data and digital systems1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
- FDA21 CFR Parts 210 and 211(official source, opens in a new tab)FDA current good manufacturing practice for finished pharmaceuticals
- FDAFDA data integrity guidance(official source, opens in a new tab)Data Integrity and Compliance With Drug CGMP: Questions and Answers
From Regulatory News
Manufacturing and quality coverage for this professionCompany hiring pulse
AstraZeneca on Regulatory Jobs
- 15
- Open roles
- 14
- Distinct roles
- 7
- Locations
By discipline
- Regulatory11 73%
- Quality4 27%
By level
- Director10 67%
- Manager2 13%
- Associate & Specialist2 13%
More roles at AstraZeneca
- View role
Associate Director, External Quality
Boston, MA · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$135K–$203K
- View role
Associate, Quality Control Analytical
Tarzana, CAAssociate & SpecialistPharmaceuticals$114K
- View role
Senior Validation Engineer
Redwood City, CASenior & PrincipalPharmaceuticals$102K–$152K
- View role
Regulatory Affairs Director - Oncology
Gaithersburg, MDDirectorPharmaceuticals$186K–$279K
Similar Quality Assurance roles elsewhere
- View role
Change Control and Quality Systems Specialist
Thermo Fisher ScientificGreenville, NCAssociate & SpecialistPharmaceuticalsSalary not listed
- View role
Summer Intern – CMC Quality Assurance, Clinical Programs
InsmedRemote, USAssociate & SpecialistPharmaceuticals$42K–$73K
- View role
Specialist, Quality CMC Operations
InsmedBridgewater, NJ · HybridAssociate & SpecialistPharmaceuticals$81K–$104K
- View role
Summer Intern – Quality Systems & Business Processes
InsmedBridgewater, NJ · HybridAssociate & SpecialistPharmaceuticals$42K–$73K
Quality Assurance At-the-Source Specialist, Cell Therapy at AstraZeneca
Applications close October 28. $101K–$151K a year, employer provided.

