Production Specialist III Cell Therapy Cell Culture - Berkeley, CA
Bayer · Berkeley, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Production
- Base pay
- $78k–$117k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 6+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A senior production role at Bayer (pharma & life sciences) in Berkeley, CA. Create, own, and drive business processes of moderate complexity in CT-MOD to ensure operational readiness and efficient manufacturing, including raising and supporting deviation investigations, partnering on root cause and product impact, and implementing.
- They ask for
- 6+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, SPC, CAPA, Minitab, FDA / GMP, Internal audits
- Base pay
- $78k–$117k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $125k–$177k. This one lists $78k–$117k.
Median of the low and high ends of 44 live postings that list pay, out of 120 production engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 119 other live production postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 34% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (6+ vs 5+)
Typical $120k–$174k, from 35 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ New product launch 38%
- Lean 30%
- ✓ Root cause 28%
- ✓ Automation 26%
- ✓ Team leadership 23%
- Python 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for SPC, CAPA, Minitab, FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Bayer
We found 3 people at this company and state: 3 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Mike → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Bayer in Berkeley
1 other open role at this site · 3 people we found in production roles at Bayer.
- Production Specialist II Cell Therapy Cell Culture - Berkeley, CA · Production · Specialist
Full description from BayerAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
The primary
Required Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field;
- ✓4–6 years of cGMP biologics or cell therapy manufacturing experience with hands-on work in solution preparation, cell expansion/culture, and aseptic fill/finish;
- ✓Proficiency with single-use technology systems, including setup, operation, and troubleshooting;
- ✓Working knowledge of phase-appropriate cGMP practices and documentation from clinical through launch, including sampling, automation, batch records, and change control;
- ✓Experience monitoring and controlling processes using data trending and/or statistical process control, with the ability to escalate issues and support investigations;
- ✓Demonstrated ability to author, redline, and review controlled documents and SOPs for equipment and processes;
- ✓Experience supporting deviations, conducting root cause analyses, and implementing effective CAPA to prevent recurrence;
- ✓Familiarity with commissioning and qualification activities, including IOPQ and executing C&Q documentation under supervision;
- ✓Strong cross-functional collaboration skills partnering with Development and MSAT to align on process, equipment, materials, and automation;
- ✓Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills to ensure effective knowledge transfer across shifts and to leadership;
- ✓Proven ability to create, own, and drive business processes of moderate complexity to achieve operational readiness;
- ✓Demonstrated commitment to safety, including participation in safety investigations and regulatory/internal audits;
- ✓Willingness to work across CT-MOD areas and shifts as business needs require.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Master’s degree in Biotechnology, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline;
- ✓6+ years of cGMP experience in cell therapy, gene therapy, or biologics manufacturing, including late-stage and launch products;
- ✓Direct experience in a clinical cell therapy environment (e.g., autologous or allogeneic cell therapies) using single-use technologies;
- ✓Hands-on experience with end-to-end cell therapy processes, including cell expansion, differentiation, and fill/finish for a single cell line or platform;
- ✓Experience leading or acting as a subject matter expert in regulatory inspections and internal audits;
- ✓Advanced experience with statistical process control tools and data analytics (e.g., JMP, Minitab, Spotfire, or similar);
- ✓Demonstrated experie
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At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.
Production Specialist III Cell Therapy Cell Culture - Berkeley, CA
Production Specialist III, CT-MOD – Cell Therapy Manufacturing
Responsible for clinical manufacturing of novel cell therapy drug substance within the Cell Therapy Module (CT-MOD); collaborate closely with Biological Development (BD) and Manufacturing Science and Technology (MSAT) for new product introductions and ensure platform alignment; contribute to bringing transformative cell therapies to patients by operating at the interface of development and GMP manufacturing within a highly cross-functional, science-driven environment.
of this role, Production Specialist III, CT-MOD, are to
- •Perform clinical manufacturing operations across Solution Preparation, Cell Expansion, Cell Culture, and Final Fill and freezing, executing seamlessly across all areas and acting as a delegate to the Sr. Production Specialist;
- •Participate in new product introductions into CT-MOD with BD and MSAT support, ensuring activities are performed according to schedule and aligned with platform processes, equipment, raw materials, and automation for at least one area;
- •Manufacture products across multiple phases of the product life cycle from clinical through launch and clearly communicate phase-appropriate differences in documentation, sample handling, automation, and cGMP expectations;
- •Handle and troubleshoot single-use technology, monitor and control processes using data trending and/or statistical process control, and work cross-functionally to ensure process control, escalation, and investigation of issues;
- •Author, redline, and review controlled documents for equipment and processes, ensure alignment with cell therapy platform philosophy, and assess documentation impact of changes in materials and equipment to provide sound recommendations;
- •Create, own, and drive business processes of moderate complexity in CT-MOD to ensure operational readiness and efficient manufacturing, including raising and supporting deviation investigations, partnering on root cause and product impact, and implementing effective corrective actions;
- •Perform commissioning and IOPQ of CT-MOD equipment and execute C&Q documentation under supervision, participate in regulatory and internal audits, and support safety investigations while promoting safe behaviors and implementing corrective actions;
- •Support development of training curricula and materials for the CT-MOD team, deliver training as a subject matter expert, maintain personal training compliance, and drive a culture of continuous improvement by challenging the status quo, proposing solutions, and encouraging innovation in others.