Technical Expert, Raw Material Testing & Release Quality Control

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson · Pharma · Wilson, NC +1

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Technical Expert in Raw Material Testing & Release Quality Control for their Large Molecule Drug Substance Manufacturing facility. The role involves technical ownership of raw material testing, method lifecycle management, laboratory investigations, and supporting computerized systems. Responsibilities include serving as a QC technical SME, leading testing and release of raw materials, owning method lifecycle activities, and leading complex laboratory investigations. Requires a Bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering and at least 4 years of experience in a biopharmaceutical QC lab with raw material testing, cGMP knowledge, and experience with QC lab systems and analytical techniques.

What you'd actually do

  1. Serve as the QC technical subject matter expert (SME) for raw material testing supporting large molecule drug substance manufacturing, including establishment and lifecycle management of raw material specifications, test methods, and control strategies.
  2. Lead laboratory testing and release of raw materials and excipients (e.g., buffers, salts, media components, resins, filters, single-use components) using compendial and non-compendial methods, ensuring adherence to cGMP, data integrity, and ALCOA+ expectations, as well as, method optimization/process improvement, compendial signals compliance, support supplier qualification and reduced testing activities.
  3. Own method lifecycle activities for raw material testing, including method selection, verification/validation, transfers, robustness assessments, reference standard management, and troubleshooting of atypical results.
  4. Lead complex laboratory investigations (OOS/OOT, deviations, atypical results) for raw material testing; perform root cause analysis, define CAPA, and ensure timely, scientifically sound documentation.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Science or Engineering
  • 4 years of related work experience in a biopharmaceutical or pharmaceutical Quality Control laboratory
  • Direct experience testing raw materials and/or excipients supporting biologics manufacturing
  • Strong working knowledge of cGMP and global regulatory expectations (e.g., FDA, EU, ICH)
  • Knowledge of data integrity and regulatory inspection readiness
  • Demonstrated experience with QC laboratory systems and documentation workflows (e.g., LIMS, chromatography data systems, electronic notebooks)
  • Compliant data review and traceability
  • Hands-on technical expertise with analytical techniques commonly used for raw material testing (e.g., HPLC/UPLC, UV-Vis, FTIR/Raman, titration, pH/conductivity, TOC, endotoxin/bioburden, and particulate/visual inspection)
  • Ability to independently troubleshoot analytical methods and laboratory equipment issues
  • Partner effectively with Manufacturing, QA, MSAT, Supply Chain, and external suppliers

Nice to have

  • Experience establishing or revising raw material specifications
  • Supplier qualification/testing strategies
  • Risk-based control approaches
  • Leading or authoring investigation records (OOS/OOT, deviations), technical reports, and validation/verification protocols and summaries
  • Knowledge of computerized system validation (CSV) and instrument qualification practices for QC systems
  • Change control and periodic review
  • Drive continuous improvement in raw material testing (e.g., method modernization, cycle time reduction, right-first-time documentation, automation/digital enablement)
  • Strong technical writing and communication skills

What the JD emphasized

  • cGMP
  • raw material testing
  • method lifecycle management
  • laboratory investigations
  • compendial testing (USP/EP/JP)