AstraZeneca Posted November 3, 2026

Digital Automation Engineer, Cell Therapy

Tarzana, California, United States of America Full time
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About this opportunity

The Digital Automation Engineer will support the design, development, and integration of digital manufacturing and automation solutions for Cell Therapy operations, working under the guidance of senior engineers and technical leads. This role offers hands-on experience across software development, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, robotics integration, and manufacturing application development within a regulated, GMP manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate is an early-career engineer with a strong foundation in programming and a curiosity for applying AI, robotics, and software engineering to real-world manufacturing challenges in Cell Therapy.

Key Responsibilities

Software & Application Development

Develop, test, and maintain software applications and scripts supporting manufacturing execution, automation, and digital workflows, under the guidance of senior engineers

Write clean, well-documented code in Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, or similar languages

Participate in code reviews, unit testing, and debugging of applications

Support development of low-code/no-code manufacturing applications (e.g., Tulip) for shop floor execution and operator workflows

Assist with building and testing APIs and integrations between manufacturing systems

AI & Machine Learning

Support development, training, and testing of AI/ML models for manufacturing use cases such as predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and process optimization

Assist with data collection, cleaning, and preparation for AI/ML projects

Learn and apply foundational AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn) under mentorship

Contribute to proof-of-concept projects exploring AI-driven manufacturing intelligence

Robotics & Automation Integration

Assist in integrating robotics platforms, automation equipment, and OT systems with digital manufacturing platforms

Support configuration and testing of middleware and industrial connectivity protocols (e.g., OPC-UA, MQTT)

Participate in troubleshooting of automation and robotics interfaces under supervision

Document integration processes, equipment telemetry, and automation workflows

Manufacturing Systems Support

Support day-to-day operation and continuous improvement of MES, LIMS, and manufacturing orchestration platforms

Assist with testing, validation, and deployment of new digital manufacturing applications

Help troubleshoot application issues and escalate complex problems to senior team members

Contribute to documentation of system configurations and standard operating procedures

Collaboration & Professional Growth

Partner with Manufacturing Operations, Automation Engineering, Quality, and Digital IT teams on assigned projects

Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives

Seek mentorship from senior engineers to build technical and Cell Therapy domain expertise

Pursue ongoing learning in GxP compliance, Cell Therapy manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation/Mechatronics Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent practical experience)

At least 1+ years of experience in software development through internships, co-ops, academic projects, or professional roles

Foundational programming skills in one or more languages: Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, or similar

Basic understanding of AI/machine learning concepts, gained through coursework, projects, or self-study

Exposure to robotics, automation, or embedded systems through coursework, internships, or personal projects

Familiarity with application development fundamentals, including APIs, databases, and version control (e.g., Git)

Strong problem-solving skills and eagerness to learn in a regulated manufacturing environment

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Academic, internship, or personal project experience applying AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)

Exposure to robotics platforms, PLCs, or industrial automation equipment

Familiarity with low-code manufacturing platforms (e.g., Tulip) or manufacturing execution systems (MES/LIMS)

Interest or coursework in Cell Therapy, biologics, pharmaceutical, or regulated (GxP) manufacturing environments

Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and CI/CD pipelines

Knowledge of industrial connectivity protocols (OPC-UA, MQTT)

Familiarity with Agile development practices

#CellTherapy

The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $103K to $155K. Our positions offer eligibility for various 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.

*Please note this position does not offer visa sponsorship.

Date Posted

03-Nov-2026

Closing Date

10-Nov-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.

Job details

Seniority
Not listed
Function
Manufacturing & CMC
Therapeutic area
Not listed
Location
Tarzana, California, United States of America
Employment type
Full time

How this role compares

Computed from every other active Manufacturing & CMC role in our database, not just this employer's listings.

We currently track 3374 comparable Manufacturing & CMC roles across 173 biopharma companies.

3374Comparable roles tracked
3075Currently active
173Companies hiring similar roles
61Countries represented

Salary context

793 of 3374 peers report a salary range (USD, annualized)

Peers share this role's job function. This posting doesn't list a seniority level, so peers aren't narrowed by seniority either -- the range below may span more levels than usual.

This roleSubject Not listed on this posting
Lowest disclosed · Operator – Plant Utilities · Lilly $13/hr – $28/hr (≈ $26,998–$58,302/yr)
Highest disclosed · Head of Analytical Development · ModernaTX, Inc. $272,200/yr – $490,100/yr
Peer group range $42,650 – $381,150 (median $128,400)

Where these roles are based

Top locations among the 3374 comparable roles

United States1531
Germany216
India155
France145
Ireland130
China121

+ 55 more countries

Seniority mix

1484 of 3374 peers have a known seniority level

Senior403
Manager351
Intern/Fellow/Postdoc198
Associate142
Principal126
Director106
Associate Director104
Senior Director47
Executive/VP7

Therapeutic area mix

21 of 3374 peers have a known therapeutic area; the rest are genuinely unlabeled, not hidden

Vaccines & Infectious Disease13
Rare Disease3
Oncology2
Dermatology & Aesthetics1
Respiratory1
Immunology1

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How we calculate "similar"

No black box, no LLM guesswork: a deterministic score built from four normalized attributes. Here's this role's own peer group at different match levels, so you can see the mechanism, not just the result.

Every comparison starts from the same 100-point budget: 25 for working in the same function, 40 for the same therapeutic area, 20 for the same or adjacent seniority, 15 for the same country. A dimension we can't confirm on both sides contributes nothing, never a guess, never a free pass.

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Function Therapeutic area Seniority Country
Unmatched or unknown dimensions score exactly the same: 0 points, never a partial guess. A role we know almost nothing about beyond its function bottoms out at 25%; it never inflates to 100% just because there's little to compare against. Seniority uses a defined ladder (Associate → Manager → Associate Director → Senior → Principal → Director → Senior Director → Executive/VP) so "Director" and "Senior Director" count as adjacent, but "Director" and "Executive/VP" do not.