Senior Manager, Quality Engineering

Crinetics is a pharmaceutical company based in San Diego, California, developing much-needed therapies for people with endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors. We were founded by a dedicated team of scientists with the simple belief that better therapies developed from rigorous innovation can lead to better lives. Our work continues to make a real difference in the lives of patients. We have a prolific discovery engine and a robust preclinical and clinical development pipeline. We are driven by science with a patient-centric and team-oriented culture. Crinetics is known for its inclusive workplace culture. We are also a dog-friendly workplace. This is an exciting time to join Crinetics as we shape our organization into the world’s premier fully-integrated endocrine company from discovery to patients. Join our team as we transform the lives of others.

Position Summary:

The Senior Manager, Quality Engineering (GMP) is responsible for the execution, administration, and continuous facilitation of the Quality Risk Management (QRM) program within GMP operations. This role partners closely with Technical Operations and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure risks are proactively identified, assessed, documented, and managed throughout the product lifecycle.

Reporting to the Director, Quality Engineering, this role serves as a key operational leader and subject matter expert for QRM, supporting the deployment of scalable, risk-based approaches across manufacturing, technology transfer, validation, commercial production activities and quality operations. The Senior Manager will work within project teams and governance forums to ensure consistent application of risk management principles, while contributing to inspection readiness, continuous improvement, and overall quality system effectiveness.

This position emphasizes hands-on facilitation, cross-functional engagement, and lifecycle oversight of risk, with accountability for program execution and performance, while the Director retains ownership of program strategy and evolution.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

These may include but are not limited to:

• Lead the administration and day-to-day execution of the GMP Quality Risk Management (QRM) program across GMP quality, development and commercial operations.
• Facilitate structured risk assessments (e.g., FMEA, risk ranking/filtering) with cross-functional SMEs to ensure consistent identification, categorization, and quantification of risk.
• Partner with Technical Operations project teams to embed risk-based decision making into:
  • Product development lifecycle
  • Technology transfer
  • Process validation and continued process verification
  • Manufacturing and supply chain activities
• Ensure risks are appropriately documented, trended, escalated, and maintained through their full lifecycle within QMS tools.
• Establish and maintain risk registers, dashboards, and metrics to provide visibility into risk profiles and trends.
• Drive alignment between QRM outputs and core quality systems (e.g., deviations, CAPA, change control).

• Serve as the Quality Engineering representative on project teams or facilitate structured touchpoints with project leads to ensure integration of QRM principles.
• Collaborate with Quality, Manufacturing, Quality Control, Regulatory Affairs, and Supply Chain to ensure risk-informed decision making across GMP operations.

• Provide Quality input into process changes, investigations, and technical decisions with a risk-based perspective.
• Support the effectiveness of key quality systems (e.g., CAPA, deviation management, change control) by ensuring risk prioritization and linkage to QRM outputs.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in risk management and/or Quality processes, tools, and integration with the QMS.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of risk-based procedures, templates, and training materials.

• Support regulatory inspection readiness activities by ensuring risk management practices are inspection-ready, traceable, and defensible.
• Provide QRM support during audits and inspections, including risk-based justifications and documentation of decision-making.
• Ensure alignment with global regulatory expectations (e.g., FDA, EMA) regarding risk-based quality systems.

• Ensure that risk-related data is accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with ALCOA+ principles.
• Develop and monitor risk-based performance metrics and KPIs to identify emerging signals and drive proactive action.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior team members and cross-functional partners on QRM principles and tools.
• Act as a subject matter expert in QRM within GMP operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Engineering or related field)
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in Quality Assurance within pharmaceutical/biotech GMP environments
• Demonstrated experience in Quality Risk Management methodologies (e.g., ICH Q9, FMEA, risk ranking)
• Strong knowledge of GMP regulations and global expectations (e.g., FDA, EMA)
• Experience supporting manufacturing, tech transfer, validation, and/or commercial operations
• Proven ability to facilitate cross-functional risk assessments and drive outcomes
• Strong communication, organizational, and influencing skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in a scientific or engineering discipline
• Experience with small molecule and/or solid oral dose manufacturing
• Experience with electronic QMS systems (e.g., Veeva Vault)
• Lean/Six Sigma or formal problem-solving training
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections or audits

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Physical Activities: On a continuous basis, sit at desk for a long period of time; intermittently answer telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means. Some walking and lifting up to 25 lbs. may be required. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and responsibilities.

Laboratory Activities (if applicable): Biology and chemical laboratory environment experience needed. Environmental health and safety requirements also apply.

Travel:

You may be required to travel for up to 15% of your time to support manufacturing sites, CMOs, or inspections.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Crinetics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion or similar philosophical beliefs, disability, marital and civil union status, age, genetic information, veteran status or any personal attribute or characteristic that is protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

Salary Range

In addition to your base pay, our total rewards program consists of a discretionary annual target bonus, stock options, ESPP, and 401k match. We also provide top-notch health insurance plans for employees (and their families) to include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance, 20 days of PTO, 10 paid holidays, and a winter company shutdown.