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Director Process Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Solidigm

Process Development Engineer

Rancho Cordova, CA · On-site

$139.52K - $223.30K/yr

The ideal candidate will have direct experience in 3D NAND process development. * Willing to travel and work 25% of time in manufacturing fab outside US. Additional Information The compensation range ...

Ichor Systems

Process Development Engineer 2

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$82.40K - $140.10K/yr

Build routers / BOM's in GSS for direct processes. * Develop and issue process designs (sometimes ... Work with the business development team and support NPI's - development to production. * Manage ...

Ichor Systems

Process Development Engineer 2

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$82.40K - $140.10K/yr

Build routers / BOM's in GSS for direct processes. * Develop and issue process designs (sometimes ... Work with the business development team and support NPI's - development to production. * Manage ...

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$42.4K

$81.5K

$159.9K

How much do director process development jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for director process development in California is $81,516.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $54,300.00 and $96,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Process Development, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Process Development, you need deep expertise in process engineering, project management, and a strong background in chemistry, biochemistry, or a related field, often supported by an advanced degree. Familiarity with process modeling software, statistical analysis tools, and industry-specific quality standards such as GMP or Six Sigma certifications is typically required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These abilities are essential for driving efficient process innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and leading teams toward operational excellence.

How does a Director of Process Development typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project success?

As a Director of Process Development, you will regularly work alongside R&D, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and Regulatory Affairs teams to ensure new processes are scalable, compliant, and align with business goals. This collaboration often involves leading cross-departmental meetings, aligning on project milestones, and troubleshooting process bottlenecks together. Strong communication and leadership skills are crucial, as you’ll be responsible for integrating feedback, managing diverse perspectives, and ensuring that project deliverables are met on time and within budget.

What does a Director of Process Development do?

A Director of Process Development is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and optimization of processes within an organization, typically in manufacturing, biotech, or pharmaceutical industries. They lead teams to develop efficient, cost-effective, and scalable processes for producing products or delivering services. This role often involves coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Director also collaborates with R&D, quality, and production departments to bring new products from concept to commercial scale.

What job pays 400,000 a year without a degree?

A Director of Process Development typically requires advanced technical skills and experience, and such high salaries are usually associated with executive roles that often require a degree. However, some specialized roles in sales, entrepreneurship, or certain trades can reach or exceed this level without formal higher education, especially with proven expertise and industry success.

What is the difference between Director Process Development vs Process Engineer?

AspectDirector Process DevelopmentProcess Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Engineering or related field, often with leadership experienceBachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentStrategic planning, team leadership, cross-department collaborationHands-on process design, optimization, and troubleshooting
Industry UsageCommonly used in biotech, pharma, and manufacturing industriesUsed across similar industries for process development and improvement

The main difference is that the Director Process Development oversees strategic process initiatives and manages teams, while the Process Engineer focuses on executing process improvements and technical tasks. The director role involves higher-level planning and leadership, whereas the engineer role is more hands-on and technical.

What are the most commonly searched types of Process Development jobs in California? The most popular types of Process Development jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Process Development jobs in California? For Director Process Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Process Development jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Director Process Development jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Director Process Development jobs? Cities in California with the most Director Process Development job openings:
Director Process Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Process Development job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 97% Full Time, and 3% Part Time. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,516 per year, or $39.2 per hour.
Director, Process Development

Director, Process Development

Cellares

South San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Position Summary

Cellares is seeking an innovative and highly motivated Director to lead enterprise client programs within the Process Development team. The candidate will have extensive experience in cell therapy manufacturing, personnel oversight and client relationship management. This individual will interface across many parts of the company and with customers to translate existing client drug product manufacturing processes onto the Cell Shuttle manufacturing platform.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and developing scientists and research associates, as well as supporting technology transfer and ongoing research and development activities. Extensive experience in experimental design, process development, process characterization, MSAT and cell/gene therapy manufacturing are required. The ideal candidate will be well acquainted with developing scalable processes and transferring them from the development space into manufacturing.

Candidates should enjoy working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, and be prepared to tackle a broad selection of challenges as the company grows.
Responsibilities
  • Developing and leading the Enterprise Programs team within the PD department
  • Managing tech transfer and process development activities to enable regulatory filing
  • Serving as the company’s internal subject matter expert with regards to cell therapy manufacturing questions associated with all Enterprise Programs
  • Assuming responsibility for tracking and planning resource allocation, budgets, headcount and continuous team, process and technology improvements
  • Developing best practices, templates, and standards for transitioning processes from development into characterization and, ultimately, manufacturing
  • Planning the process development team’s work for the quarters to come with clearly defined goals and resourcing plans
  • Performing gap analyses and translating existing manual and/or automated processes onto the Cell Shuttle platform
  • Performing and supporting in the execution of verification, validation, and performance qualification
  • Authoring standard operating procedures, protocols, and batch records for the manufacturing of Enterprise Program cell therapies
  • Working with our Analytical Development team to assess and quantify the quality of cell therapy manufacturing process steps in meeting Enterprise Program client requirements
  • Authoring high-quality regulatory submissions and technical reports; independently prepare and present data/findings at department, project team, and senior management meetings
Requirements
  • PhD, M.S. or B.S. in biological sciences (Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetics)
  • Excellent organizational and communications skills and strong ability to lead and work with individuals across all levels in the organization
  • 4+ years of experience in the cell and gene therapy manufacturing or process development space, with at least two years in an industry setting. 
  • Extensive experience with different modalities of genetically modified cell therapies (e.g. CAR-T, TCR, HSCs, CD34+)
  • Experience with both autologous and allogeneic cell therapy manufacturing workflows in preclinical, clinical and/or commercial environments
  • Experience representing companies externally, with strong client relationship management skills
  • Experience with managing and growing process development teams and processes
  • Strong experimental design and troubleshooting skills, able to distill complex scientific information into simple and actionable final reports
  • Experience working in a GMP environment and familiarity with quality requirements
  • Demonstrated experience in process optimization, characterization and tech transfer
  • Excellent data analysis skills and experience with a variety of scientific software applications
  • Great verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interpret, summarize, and present scientific results in a clear, concise, accurate manner to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Must be able to travel up to 15% of the time
  • Self-awareness, integrity, authenticity and a growth mindset
Nice to have
  • Experience interfacing with the FDA
  • PhD / post-doctoral experience in the gene/cell therapy field
  • Experience authoring CMC sections for IND, IMPD and NDA
  • Proven track record of utilizing management and process improvement tools (daily management, problem solving & root cause analysis tools, value stream mapping etc.) to meet and exceed strategic business objectives
Cellares’ total compensation package contains competitive base salaries, highly subsidized Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans, 401(k) Matching, Free EV Charging, Onsite lunches, and Stock options. All displayed pay ranges are approximate, negotiable, and location dependent.

This is Cellares

Cellares is the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) and takes an Industry 4.0 approach to mass manufacturing the living drugs of the 21st century. The company is both developing and operating integrated technologies for cell therapy manufacturing to accelerate access to life-saving cell therapies. The company’s Cell Shuttle integrates all the technologies required for the entire manufacturing process in a flexible and high-throughput platform that delivers true walk-away, end-to-end automation. Cell Shuttles will be deployed in Cellares’ Smart Factories around the world to meet total patient demand for cell therapies at global scale. Partnering with Cellares enables academics, biotechs, and pharma companies to accelerate drug development and scale out manufacturing, lower process failure rates, lower manufacturing costs, and meet global patient demand.
The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California with its commercial-scale IDMO Smart Factory in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The company is backed by world-class investors and has raised over $355 million in financing.

Leveling will be based on overall experience, education, and demonstration of knowledge throughout the interview process.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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About Cellares

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

South San Francisco, CA, US

Year founded

2019

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