Associate Principal Material Scientist – Digital & Process

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, UK, is seeking an Associate Principal Material Scientist to provide scientific leadership in material science across the product lifecycle. You will connect material attributes to robust control strategies, enabling faster decisions and value protection for patients.

The role requires deep scientific expertise, hands-on experience in pharma, and a digital-first, proactive mindset to streamline processes, ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement across

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of material science in the pharmaceutical industry, applied to raw materials, intermediates and drug products, including excipient functionality and its relationship to physicochemical properties.
• Experience with material characterisation and trace analysis of raw material, intermediate and final products (e.g. mechanical testing, PSD, imaging, DVS, TGA, particle flow tests).
• Significant hands-on experience in the pharmaceutical industry with professional credibility within the business and/or industry.
• Understanding of the drug development and commercialisation process from development, launch and through lifecycle management.
• Possess an innovative and proactive outlook with a digital-first approach to streamline processes, enhance compliance, and champion efficiency.
• Thorough understanding of SHE and cGMP principles.
• Experience in Operations and/or R&D with track record of successful project leadership in a matrix organisation.
• Strong business acumen, organisational skills and lean deployment.
• Experience in stakeholder management and capability to lead and collaborate across organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead material science knowledge across the product lifecycle to enable innovative manufacturing platforms and digitalisation.
• Enhance Product Digital Intelligence by connecting material knowledge with control strategy lifecycle management and process intelligence.
• Apply material science to identify risks earlier, improve issue-resolution speed and strengthen product robustness across sites and products.
• Build future-ready material science capability through teamwork, mentoring, and upskilling.
• Provide external insight on material-related regulations and trends.
• Maintain a technical support model with outstanding customer service for AZ manufacturing sites and external partners.
• Build networks across Global Operations and collaborate with Quality and GES to resolve issues in AZ's best interest.
• Develop solutions to complex problems requiring high-level judgement and strategic thinking.
• Drive continuous improvement in competence, scientific excellence and innovation.
• Operate in line with Code of Conduct and supporting Policies and Standards.

Skills

Material science

Stakeholder management

Digital mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Science/Engineering

Tools

Characterisation techniques

Job description

AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, UK, is seeking an Associate Principal Material Scientist to provide scientific leadership in material science across the product lifecycle. You will connect material attributes to robust control strategies, enabling faster decisions and value protection for patients.

The role requires deep scientific expertise, hands-on experience in pharma, and a digital-first, proactive mindset to streamline processes, ensure compliance and drive continuous improvement across