Senior Scientist Process Engineer - Product Development

AstraZeneca plc; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc in Macclesfield, UK, invites a Senior Scientist Process Engineer to design, develop and optimize robust manufacturing processes for oral and parenteral products in late-stage development. This role combines hands-on experimentation with modelling and digital tools to drive efficient transfer to commercial scale.

You will work within a cross-functional team at the interface of science and manufacturing, shaping development strategies and pushing for data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering or Applied Physics or MSc with significant industrial experience in pharmaceutical process development.
• Hands-on laboratory experience with experimental design, data generation and interpretation for process understanding.
• Experience in pharmaceutical process development within CMC, including design, development and optimisation of drug product manufacturing processes for oral solids and parenteral products.
• Strong understanding of GMP, Process Safety, Data Integrity and Change Control requirements.
• Experience applying modelling, simulation and digital technologies to support process understanding and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Process Design and Optimization: Lead the design, development and optimization of robust manufacturing processes for oral and parenteral drug products, ensuring long-term performance and patient needs are met.
• Experimental Process Understanding: Design, execute and interpret laboratory studies to build deep process understanding and generate decision-enabling data.
• Scale-Up and Technology Transfer: Contribute within cross-functional teams to develop, scale and transfer reliable commercial manufacturing processes for oral solid dosage forms and parenteral products.
• Modelling and Simulation: Apply modelling, simulation and digital tools to guide experimental strategy, quantify risk and accelerate development timelines.
• Digital Enablement: Champion and advance digital approaches that enhance pharmaceutical process development and strengthen data integrity and reuse.
• Data-Driven Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with formulation scientists, engineers, modelling and simulation specialists, and manufacturing experts to solve complex technical challenges.
• Technical Planning and Delivery: Independently plan and deliver technical activities to agreed timelines and quality standards, applying sound engineering judgement to interpret results and adapt strategies.
• Scientific Networking and Foresight: Contribute to scientific and technology networks, maintaining awareness of emerging methods and technologies relevant to pharmaceutical product development.

Skills

Laboratory experience

Modelling & digital tools

Collaboration & communication

English proficiency

Engineering work packages

Technology transfer

AI tools

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering or Applied Physics

MSc with significant industrial experience in pharmaceutical process development

Tools

Automated manufacturing systems

Job description

Senior Scientist Process Engineer - Product Development

Job Title: Senior Scientist Process Engineer - Pharmaceutical Product Development

Location: Macclesfield

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to turn cutting-edge science into dependable, scalable manufacturing that delivers medicines to patients sooner? Do you thrive at the bench and at the whiteboard, pairing experiments with models to make confident, high-impact decisions? Based in the UK, Macclesfield you will be a laboratory-based senior scientist who combines hands‑on experimentation with modelling, simulation and digital tools to create robust processes for oral and parenteral drug products in late‑stage development.

You will join a cross‑functional process technology and engineering team that sits at the interface of science and manufacturing. Here, your work will strengthen process understanding, shape development strategies and influence how new medicines are made at commercial scale. Can you see yourself designing critical experiments in the morning and using digital insights in the afternoon to steer the next wave of development?

Accountabilities:

Process Design and Optimization: Lead the design, development and optimization of robust manufacturing processes for oral and parenteral drug products, ensuring long‑term performance and patient needs are met.

Experimental Process Understanding: Design, execute and interpret laboratory studies to build deep process understanding and generate decision‑enabling data.

Scale‑Up and Technology Transfer: Contribute within cross‑functional teams to develop, scale and transfer reliable commercial manufacturing processes for oral solid dosage forms and parenteral products.

Modelling and Simulation: Apply modelling, simulation and digital tools to guide experimental strategy, quantify risk and accelerate development timelines.

Digital Enablement: Champion and advance digital approaches that enhance pharmaceutical process development and strengthen data integrity and reuse.

Data‑Driven Collaboration: Build strong partnerships with formulation scientists, engineers, modelling and simulation specialists, and manufacturing experts to solve complex technical challenges.

Technical Planning and Delivery: Independently plan and deliver technical activities to agreed timelines and quality standards, applying sound engineering judgement to interpret results and adapt strategies.

Scientific Networking and Foresight: Contribute to scientific and technology networks, maintaining awareness of emerging methods and technologies relevant to pharmaceutical product development.

PhD in Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics or a related scientific discipline, or an MSc with significant industrial experience in pharmaceutical process development.

Hands‑on laboratory experience, including experimental design, data generation and interpretation to support process understanding and development.

Demonstrated experience in pharmaceutical process development within CMC, including the design, development and optimisation of drug product manufacturing processes for oral solid dosage forms and/or parenteral products.

Strong understanding of CMC regulatory requirements, with experience preparing regulatory documentation to support clinical development and/or marketing applications.

Experience applying modelling, simulation and digital technologies to support process understanding, development and decision‑making.

Strong scientific problem‑solving skills, with the ability to analyse data, interpret results, and make sound technical decisions.

Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.

Ability to work effectively in a global, cross‑functional environment and build strong collaborative relationships across disciplines.

Excellent written and spoken English.

Experience leading engineering work packages, process development activities or technology transfer projects within pharmaceutical development.

Experience of commercial process development and technology transfer for new chemical entities.

Experience of continuous processing in a pharmaceutical environment.

Knowledge of GMP, Process Safety, Data Integrity and Change Control requirements.

Experience working with automated manufacturing systems and digitalised process development environments.

Experience working with CDMOs and outsourced development activities.

Experience exploring or applying AI‑enabled tools within pharmaceutical development.

Why AstraZeneca:

Join a community where scientists, engineers and digital specialists work side by side to move molecules to medicines with pace and precision. You will influence how a diverse pipeline is developed and manufactured, from high‑tech labs to modern production lines that apply lean thinking, automation and advanced analytics. Here, unexpected combinations of expertise come together to test bold ideas, learn fast and scale what works, all within a culture that values kindness alongside ambition. With strong investment, global reach and a clear focus on sustainability including ambitious goals to cut our environmental footprint, you will build skills for the future while contributing directly to therapies that change lives.