Principal Scientist, Chemical Engineering R&D

Job Description

The Chemical Engineering Research & Development department (CERD), part of the Process Research and Development organization, is seeking highly motivated individuals who are looking for an opportunity to work in a fast-paced job that provides a high degree of technical leadership and mentoring. This position leverages significant depth and breadth of scientific and technical experience to lead small molecule drug substance process development teams to develop safe, robust and productive processes, through scale-up, tech transfer, process characterization, validation and filing. This role involves hands-on process development at the laboratory bench and kilo lab scales, in addition to support of and scale-up to pilot plant and commercial manufacturing scales. The candidate will also provide mentoring and scientific direction to develop junior staff to design, plan, and implement advanced experiments aimed at achieving research goals related to process development, technology development, and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The candidate may also have the opportunity to manage process development and/or manufacturing activities at external suppliers. The engineer will be expected to exhibit a mindset of safety and quality compliance, which will include following current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), and participating in risk assessments, deviation investigations, and Good Documentation Practices (GDPs). 

A high level of innovation, creativity, and self-initiative along with the ability to plan and organize activities are expected. Successful candidates will be required to communicate regularly, clearly, and effectively as they discuss technical problems, support pilot plant operations, and interface with cross-functional colleagues/customers.

Education Minimum Requirement: The position requires either a BS and/or MS in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering (or comparable) from an accredited college/university plus at least 11 years of relevant work experience in process development, or a PhD in Chemical/Biochemical Engineering (or comparable) from an accredited college/university with at least 6 years of relevant work experience post PhD defense.

Required Experience and Skills:  

• For BS/MS candidates, at least 11 years of relevant work experience post-graduation - OR – for PhD candidates with at least 6 years of relevant work experience post PhD defense, where relevant work experience would include the following:

• Experience performing lab-based research/process development including performing unit operations common in small molecule drug substance process development such as chemical reactions, work-up, and crystallization.

• Demonstrations of successful chemical process scale-up and technology transfer, moving from laboratory to pilot plant or production scale.

• Demonstrated capability to develop and execute an experimental program to address issues of process design, robustness …