Process Engineer

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical company is looking for a Process Engineer to join their Macclesfield Campus. The role will focus on the development of oral solid dose products, including lab-based experimentation and technology transfer processes. Successful candidates will have a degree in Chemical Engineering and strong understanding of pharmaceutical processing. This position offers competitive rewards, tailored training, and career growth opportunities. Join the team to help deliver the next generation of medicines.

Benefits

Competitive rewards

Tailored training

Career growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of unit operations applicable to pharmaceutical processing.
• Ability to work independently and within teams under high standards of documentation.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute laboratory-scale OSD process experiments.
• Analyze and interpret data for process understanding.
• Provide process engineering expertise to project teams.

Skills

Process engineering fundamentals

Collaboration and communication

Data-driven judgement

Scientific rigor

Education

Degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Process equipment knowledge

Job description

Process Engineer – Global Product Development

Location: Macclesfield, UK

Join a company where science becomes medicine. At AstraZeneca, we transform breakthrough ideas into life‑changing therapies. Our Macclesfield Campus in Cheshire is a vibrant hub of scientific excellence, collaboration, and cutting‑edge manufacturing—where your work will directly impact patients worldwide.

About Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D) and Global Product Development (GPD)

PT&D is the bridge that turns brilliant science into real medicines, spanning the entire value chain—from early toxicology and clinical supplies to technology that enables robust commercial manufacture. Within PT&D, GPD leads the late‑stage design and development of drug products across a range of dosage forms. We develop the formulation, manufacturing process, and scientific understanding needed to scale, launch, and sustain new medicines. You’ll collaborate in highly multidisciplinary teams with engineers and pharmaceutical scientists to deliver for patients.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Process Engineer focused on oral solid dose (OSD) forms (tablets, capsules). You will split your time between lab‑based experimentation and in silico process development, and supporting project teams on scale‑up and technology transfer to manufacturing sites. Flexibility to contribute to other dosage forms (e.g., parenterals) may be required. This role is ideal for someone curious, motivated, and eager to learn.

You will play a key part in advancing our continuous manufacturing platforms—a strategic priority for AstraZeneca and PT&D—delivering experimental and digital insights to develop, optimize, and scale robust, sustainable processes across diverse unit operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lab-based process development: Plan and execute laboratory‑scale OSD process experiments, with an emphasis on continuous manufacturing.
• Data and digital delivery: Analyze and interpret data; apply modelling and simulation to guide process understanding and decision‑making; communicate clear, robust conclusions.
• Project support: Provide process engineering expertise to project teams, including technical risk assessments, scale‑up, tech transfer, and preparation of documentation for manufacturing sites.
• Cross‑functional collaboration: Contribute to integrated drug product development plans within a multidisciplinary team.
• Manufacturing learning: Capture learnings from manufacturing runs and drive process improvements.
• Problem solving: Troubleshoot issues arising during development and manufacturing.
• Lab ownership: Maintain lab spaces and equipment, ensuring safety, validation/calibration, and continuous improvement.
• Sustainability: Support initiatives to improve environmental sustainability, efficiency, and cost.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree: Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• Process engineering fundamentals: Strong understanding of unit operations applicable to pharmaceutical processing, including scale and equipment dependencies.
• Technology and manufacturing knowledge: Broad familiarity with process equipment, technologies, and manufacturing principles.
• Scientific rigor: Ability to work to high standards of documentation and experimental quality, independently and within teams.
• Data‑driven judgement: Rational problem‑solving and decision‑making grounded in data.
• Collaboration and communication: Clear, proactive communication and teamwork.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• OSD unit operations: Hands‑on experience in powder mixing/blending, continuous feeders/blenders, granulation, compression, or coating.
• Pharmaceutical development exposure: Understanding of drug product development lifecycle.
• Continuous manufacturing: Experience at lab or manufacturing scale.
• Lab operations/GMP exposure: Laboratory processing and/or familiarity with GMP environments.
• Data and modelling: Experience in data analysis, modelling, or simulation.

What You Can Expect

You’ll work on live development projects across a diverse portfolio—gaining hands‑on experience in OSD manufacturing and its industrial applications and collaborating with a broad range of disciplines.

In addition, you can expect:

• Tailored training: A comprehensive program to build technical depth and leadership capability.
• Career growth: Opportunities to broaden your experience as the role progresses.
• Competitive rewards: Salary and benefits that reflect your impact.

Join us to reset expectations of what a biopharmaceutical company can be and help deliver the next generation of medicines. Interested? Apply now and be part of our journey.

Date Posted 09-Dec-2025

Closing Date 23-Dec-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.