Senior Principal Peptide Scientist - External API Development (all genders)

Bayer; Nordrhein-Westfalen; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work model

Family daycare and childcare support

Learning and development opportunities

Health checks

Job summary

Bayer is seeking a Senior Principal Peptide Scientist External API Development to shape the peptide drug substance program and drive strategies with external CDMOs. You will define synthesis routes, purification and manufacturing processes, while ensuring quality, regulatory readiness and scalable supply.

The role requires leadership across global teams, deep expertise in peptide chemistry and a solid track record in API development within external partnerships.

Qualifications

• PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, peptide chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a closely related scientific discipline.
• Strong peptide drug substance development and manufacturing expertise.
• Experience with external CDMO models and API process development.
• Knowledge of CMC strategy, risk assessment, development and supply planning, and regulatory documentation.
• Clear communication with global cross-functional teams and pragmatic decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and optimization of peptide API synthesis routes and manufacturing processes balancing speed, quality, safety, cost and scalability.
• Define phase-appropriate drug substance strategies and choose synthesis, purification and manufacturing approaches.
• Provide expertise on protecting-group strategies, coupling, deprotection, impurities, purification and stability.
• Translate discovery-scale chemistry into scalable processes enabling transition from Discovery to Development.
• Represent Drug Substance Chemistry in cross-functional CMC teams and contribute to strategy, risk assessment and regulatory documentation.
• Oversee route design, process development, scale-up and manufacturing proposals from external partners.
• Lead external development and manufacturing campaigns for toxicology, clinical trials, registration, launch and supply.
• Lead process transfers across partners and internal groups ensuring documentation and knowledge continuity.

Skills

Peptide chemistry

External CDMO collaboration

Process development

Regulatory documentation

Stakeholder management

Education

PhD in organic/medicinal/peptide chemistry or related field

Tools

Peptide synthesis technologies

Job description

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.

Senior Principal Peptide Scientist - External API Development (all genders)

As a Senior Principal Peptide Scientist External API Development (m/f/d), you shape the chemical foundation of our peptide pipeline by defining and delivering phase-appropriate drug substance strategies, synthetic routes, manufacturing processes, and supply solutions through an external CDMO network. In this role, you represent Drug Substance Chemistry within the global CMC Technical Development team and are accountable for the drug substance contribution to the overall CMC package. Apply if you want to combine scientific leadership with strategic decision-making and pragmatic execution across development and manufacturing.

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• You lead the design, evaluation, and optimization of synthetic routes and manufacturing processes for peptide APIs, balancing speed, quality, safety, cost, sustainability, scalability, and process understanding
• You define phase-appropriate drug substance strategies and select suitable peptide synthesis, purification, isolation, and manufacturing approaches
• You Provide scientific expertise on protecting-group strategies, coupling and deprotection, aggregation, epimerization, oxidation, impurity formation, purification, isolation, and stability
• Translating discovery-scale and SAR-driven chemistry into reproducible, scalable, phase-appropriate processes that enable the transition from Discovery into Development is your responsibility
• You represent Drug Substance Chemistry in cross-functional CMC project teams and contribute to CMC strategy, risk assessment, development planning, supply planning, and regulatory documentation
• You steer, challenge, and approve route design, process development, scale-up, and manufacturing proposals from external partners
• Overseeing external development and manufacturing campaigns for toxicology studies, clinical trials, registration, launch, and commercial supply, including timelines, risks, budgets, supply scenarios, and partner deliverables is part of your function
• Lead process transfers across external partners and into internal development or manufacturing organizations, ensuring knowledge continuity, documentation, troubleshooting, and compliance falls under your responsibility

WHO YOU ARE

• You hold a PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, peptide chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a closely related scientific discipline
• You bring strong expertise in peptide drug substance development and manufacturing, including solid-phase, liquid-phase, hybrid, fragment-based, and emerging synthesis technologies
• Your hands-on experience in API process development, scale-up, manufacturing, and scientific troubleshooting within an external CDMO model sets you apart
• You demonstrate a solid understanding of phase-appropriate CMC requirements, including strategy development, risk assessment, development and supply planning, and CMC documentation
• Building process understanding and contributing to control strategy concepts for impurities, purification, isolation, and stability is what you are confident in
• You communicate clearly and manage stakeholders effectively in global, cross-functional project environments while making pragmatic decisions
• You apply a strong quality, regulatory, safety, sustainability, and data integrity mindset in development and manufacturing activities
• Fluent English (written and spoken) rounds off your profile

Location disclaimer: This role may be based at one of several locations, including Wuppertal (preferred), Berlin, or Basel.

WHAT WE OFFER

• We ensure yourb with a competitive salary between 109.800€ and 138.500€ per year (full-time) plus a variable component and a global equity-based cash plan. Your compensation is based on your qualifications, skills, and professional experience.
• Whether it’s hybrid work models or part-time arrangements: Whenever it is possible, you will have the flexibility to work how, when and where it is best for you.
• Your family is a top priority. We offer loving company daycare centers at multiple locations, support in finding childcare, time off for the care of elderly or dependent family members, summer camps for children, and much more.
• We support your professional growth by providing access to learning and development opportunities, training programs through the Bayer Learning Academy, development dialogues, as well as coaching and mentoring programs.
• We promote health awareness and opportunities for selfcare through various measures, such as free health checks with the company doctor.
• We embrace diversity by providing an inclusive work environment in which you are welcomed, supported, and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.

Be You. Be Bayer.

#LI-AMSEMEA

Bayer welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of race, national origin, gender, age, physical characteristics, social origin, disability, union membership, religion, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any unlawful criterion under applicable law. We are committed to treating all applicants fairly and avoiding discrimination.

Location: Wuppertal, Berlin, or Basel

Division: Pharmaceuticals

Reference Code: 889546