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External Quality Assurance Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Associate, External Quality Job location: Remote within Canada Employment type: Full Time 18 Month ... Coordinate Quality Assurance Agreements and Product Data sheets with suppliers. * Monitor vendor ...

Quality Assurance Manager

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$90 - $140/hr

Quality Assurance Manager Admin Tech Officials and Manage Seattle, WA, US Salary Range: $90,000.00 ... Experience with internal and external quality audits. * Strong knowledge of AS9100 and ISO 9001 ...

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External Quality Assurance information

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$15

$44

$64

How much do external quality assurance jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for external quality assurance in the United States is $44.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36.54 and $54.57 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is external quality assurance?

External quality assurance (EQA) refers to the process by which an independent organization evaluates and verifies the quality and standards of products, services, or processes provided by a company. This is typically done through audits, inspections, proficiency testing, or certification processes. EQA helps identify areas for improvement, ensures compliance with industry regulations or standards, and builds trust with clients and stakeholders. It is essential in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and education, where quality and safety are critical.

How does the external quality assurance role typically interact with internal teams and external partners to ensure compliance and quality standards?

Professionals in External Quality Assurance (EQA) frequently serve as the liaison between their organization and external partners, such as suppliers, contract manufacturers, or regulatory bodies. They collaborate closely with internal teams like Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, and Production to ensure that products and processes meet both internal quality standards and external regulatory requirements. This role often involves conducting audits, reviewing documentation, and facilitating corrective actions when issues are identified. Effective communication and relationship management are key, as EQA specialists must ensure all parties are aligned on quality expectations and compliance standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an external quality assurance professional, and why are they important?

To thrive as an External Quality Assurance professional, you need in-depth knowledge of quality management systems, regulatory standards (such as GMP or ISO), and a relevant scientific or technical degree. Familiarity with audit management software, document control systems, and relevant certifications like ASQ Certified Quality Auditor are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies ensure compliance, maintain high product standards, and foster trust with regulatory agencies and clients.

What is the difference between External Quality Assurance vs Internal Quality Assurance?

AspectExternal Quality AssuranceInternal Quality Assurance
FocusIndependent evaluation of products, services, or processes by external agenciesInternal monitoring and improvement of quality within an organization
CredentialsMay require certifications like ISO auditor, external audit trainingTypically involves internal training and quality management certifications
Work EnvironmentExternal audits, site visits, compliance checksInternal teams, ongoing process reviews
UsageUsed for compliance, certification, and third-party validationUsed for continuous improvement and internal standards

External Quality Assurance involves independent assessments by outside agencies to ensure compliance and credibility, while Internal Quality Assurance focuses on internal processes to improve quality continuously. Both roles are essential for maintaining high standards but serve different purposes within organizations.

Is external quality assurance a good entry-level job?

External quality assurance roles often serve as entry-level positions in industries like manufacturing, software, and healthcare, focusing on monitoring compliance and product standards. These jobs typically require attention to detail, basic knowledge of quality standards, and may involve training on specific tools or protocols. They can provide valuable experience and a foundation for career growth in quality management or related fields.
More about External Quality Assurance jobs

What states have the most External Quality Assurance jobs?

States with the most job openings for External Quality Assurance jobs include:

Infographic showing various External Quality Assurance job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $93,338 per year, or $44.9 per hour.

Director, External Quality Assurance (GMP)

Pasadena, CA โ€ข On-site

Xencor, Inc.
Biotechnology Research and Developmentย โ€ขย 201 - 500 employees

$198 - $235.50/hr

Other

Medical, Retirement

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Director, External Quality Assurance (GMP)

Xencor, Inc., 465 N. Halstead St., Pasadena, California, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Introduction:

Xencor is a public, clinicalโ€‘stage biopharmaceutical company located in the Los Angeles area (Pasadena) and in San Diego. Our focus is developing highโ€‘potential XmAb bispecific Tโ€‘cell engagers and additional engineered drug candidates that leverage our differentiated technology platforms, and we are advancing our pipeline toward clinical proofโ€‘ofโ€‘concept decisions. Our goal is to create highโ€‘impact therapeutics for patients with cancer and other serious diseases. More than 20 XmAb drug candidates engineered with our technology are in clinical development, and three XmAb medicines have been marketed by partners. For more information, please visit www.xencor.com. We have an excellent opportunity for a Director, External Quality Assurance (GMP) to join our team.

This is a hybrid position with 2 days a week onsite from our Pasadena or San Diego, CA office

Summary:

Responsible for leading Quality GMP manufacturing and testing activities at external vendors, supporting both early and late phase development and ensuring compliant product release, effective vendor management, and alignment with global GxP standards.

Job Duties:

  • Provides oversight of Quality Assurance activities at GMP external vendors for manufacturing and testing operations, ensuring compliance with global GxP regulations, quality standards and procedures.
  • Oversees and/or performs QA product release activities.
  • Directs support staff on performing product release activities.
  • Manages and performs review and approval of GMP external vendor documentation. Directs support staff on performing vendor product documentation review.
  • Participates as the QA representative for multiple products in internal and external vendor product team meetings.
  • Ensures timely resolution of operational and quality issues.
  • Maintains strong working relationships with vendor operational teams to ensure clarity of expectations and consistent execution.
  • Fosters collaborative relationships with vendors while providing quality guidance and oversight to ensure consistent adherence to established QA standards and performance objectives.
  • Evaluates vendor performance, identifies trends, gaps, and risks in dayโ€‘toโ€‘day operations and initiates corrective actions within defined processes.
  • Supports structured Vendor business reviews and performance discussions.
  • Partners with Vendor Management to address performance issues and enforce accountability.
  • Drives incremental improvements using existing continuous improvement methodologies and tools.
  • Leads root cause analysis for recurring or critical issues and ensure alignment with established remediation processes.
  • Recommends enhancements to current frameworks based on observed operational insights.
  • Collaborates with crossโ€‘functional stakeholders to ensure alignment with existing governance and operational priorities.
  • Promotes a culture of quality and disciplined adherence to established processes.
  • Performs data entry functions as required by procedure.
  • Authors, reviews and approves various internal documents ensuring accuracy and appropriate format according to procedures.
  • Manages creation and review of documents used in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
  • Perform QA activities such as authoring, reviewing, approving, and/or managing change controls, deviations, and corrective actions as needed.
  • Assures standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to job responsibilities define the steps necessary to complete tasks.
  • Maintains current knowledge of global regulatory expectations, industry standards, and emerging quality practices applicable to pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities.
  • Adheres to all department and companyโ€‘wide policies regarding conduct, performance and procedures.
  • Provides oversight and direction to direct and indirect reports, as applicable (if assigned in the future), in accordance with the organizationโ€™s policies and procedures. The responsibilities may include, but are not limited to recruiting, training, communicating job expectations, appraising and managing job performance, delivering feedback and coaching, and providing career development planning and opportunities.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skills:

Position requires a Bachelorโ€™s degree in a scientific discipline, plus a minimum of 12 years of GMP Quality/CMC experience, with extensive CMO oversight, and strong leadership, governance, and relationshipโ€‘management.

Position also requires:

  • Exceptional relationship management skills.
  • Ability to use written and verbal communication skills to communicate complex scientific, medical and program issues.
  • Ability to partner with crossโ€‘functional teams from research, preโ€‘clinical development, manufacturing, quality, regulatory and clinical development.
  • Outstanding flexibility and adaptability suited for the changing requirements and fast pace of a small biotechnology company.
  • Ability to demonstrate competencies applicable for job based on Xencorโ€™s Leadership Competency Model.
  • Ability to effectively manage others through coaching and supervision, in accordance with company policies and practices. Ensures employee performance meets the organizationโ€™s expectations for conduct, productivity, quality, continuous improvement, and goal accomplishment.

Occasional travel may be required, including travel between Xencorโ€™s Pasadena and San Diego offices. Work for this position is generally performed at Xencorโ€™s worksite and requires fullโ€‘time commitment.

Expected Base Salary Range: $198,000 - $235,500

The actual salary will be based on the selected candidateโ€™s qualifications, including skills, competencies, education and experience. Xencor offers a competitive total rewards package including 401k match, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits. In addition, this position will be eligible for an annual bonus and equity grant. For more information, please see https://xencor.com/careers/.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

The Company will provide reasonable accommodations (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with the application process upon your request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact HR@xencor.com.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

The Company is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Xencor, Inc., 465 N. Halstead St., Pasadena, California, United States of America

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About Xencor

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Biotechnology research and development

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Pasadena, CA, US

Year founded

1997