Advisor / Sr Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer

Lever, Inc.; India; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time Hyderabad

Travel up to 20%

Flexible hours

Mentoring & leadership

Job summary

Lever, Inc. in Hyderabad, India, seeks an Advisor / Sr Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer to lead development and scale-up of pharmaceutical processes in partnership with CDMOs.

You will bridge internal scientists and external manufacturing teams, applying reaction kinetics, heat/mass transfer, and process modelling to enable robust scale-up. You will mentor colleagues, promote safety and regulatory compliance, and work across small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and emerging

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with 8+ years of experience in process engineering or pharma development.
• Strong understanding of synthetic process development and scale-up for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Knowledge of kinetics, heat/mass transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and modelling.
• Experience with crystallization, filtration, drying, milling, and continuous chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight of process development with contract development/manufacturing partners.
• Act as a bridge between scientists and external manufacturing teams; review strategies and mitigate risks.
• Design and optimize robust synthetic processes using engineering fundamentals.
• Support scale-up and manufacturing of materials for clinical development.
• Develop expertise across crystallization, filtration, isolation, drying, milling, solids transfer, liquid handling, batch and continuous processing.
• Demonstrate learning agility across modalities and evolving technical challenges.
• Advance digital modelling and technology transfer; maintain clear technical documentation.
• Coach and mentor peers to promote safety, compliance, and scientific excellence.

Skills

Chemical engineering fundamentals

Process development

Scale-up

Reaction kinetics

Heat and mass transfer

Fluid dynamics

Thermodynamics

Process modelling

Continuous processing

Process analytical technology

Digital technology transfer

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Education

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Process modelling tools

Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Advisor / Sr Advisor – Synthetic Molecule Process Engineer based in India.

This is a high-impact process engineering role supporting the development and scale-up of synthetic drug substance processes across a diverse pharmaceutical portfolio.

You will provide technical oversight for process development activities performed with strategic manufacturing partners in India.

The role serves as a critical technical bridge between internal scientists and external development and manufacturing teams.

You will apply chemical engineering fundamentals to optimize processes, assess risks, and develop robust solutions capable of reliable scale-up.

The position spans multiple modalities and unit operations, offering exposure to small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and emerging technologies.

You will contribute to advanced process modelling, continuous processing, process analytical technology, and digital technology transfer initiatives.

As a scientific leader, you will also mentor colleagues and promote a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, safety, and compliance.

Accountabilities:

• Provide technical oversight of key process development activities conducted with strategic contract development and manufacturing organizations, ensuring alignment with internal technical requirements and development objectives.
• Act as the technical bridge between scientists and external manufacturing partners, reviewing development strategies, influencing technical decisions, escalating risks, and developing effective mitigation plans.
• Apply chemical engineering principles, including reaction kinetics, heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and process modelling, to design and optimize robust synthetic processes.
• Support reliable scale-up and manufacturing of raw materials, intermediates, and drug substances for early- and late-stage clinical development.
• Develop expertise across a broad range of process operations, including crystallization, filtration, isolation, drying, milling, solids transfer, liquid handling, batch chemistry, and continuous processing.
• Demonstrate learning agility across small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and other emerging therapeutic modalities, applying engineering fundamentals to evolving technical challenges.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches to process development challenges while monitoring emerging process engineering technologies and applicable regulatory expectations.
• Advance digital and modelling capabilities through the adoption of advanced analytical tools, process modelling, and digital technology transfer approaches.
• Navigate complex and ambiguous technical challenges, moving effectively between disciplines and adapting solutions to changing project needs.
• Maintain clear and appropriate technical documentation to support development activities, knowledge transfer, and compliance.
• Coach and mentor peers and other scientists while promoting accountability, scientific excellence, collaboration, safety, and compliance across the team.

Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with 8+ years of relevant professional experience in process engineering, pharmaceutical development, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong technical understanding of synthetic process development and scale-up, with the ability to apply engineering fundamentals to pharmaceutical manufacturing challenges.
• Knowledge of chemical reaction kinetics, heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and process modelling.
• Experience with a range of synthetic process unit operations, such as crystallization, filtration, isolation, drying, milling, solids transfer, liquid handling, batch processing, and continuous chemistry.
• Interest or experience in advanced process engineering approaches, including process modelling, continuous processing, process analytical technology, and digital technology transfer.
• Ability to learn and apply technical knowledge across multiple therapeutic modalities and rapidly adapt to new scientific and engineering challenges.
• Strong scientific judgment, problem-solving capabilities, and willingness to take appropriate risks when developing innovative technical solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across scientific disciplines, external partners, and geographically distributed teams.
• Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and ability to prioritize multiple activities while working effectively in ambiguous and evolving environments.
• Leadership capabilities demonstrated through coaching, mentoring, technical influence, and contribution to a collaborative team culture.
• Commitment to high standards of scientific excellence, safety, regulatory compliance, and quality.
• Willingness to work flexibly across multiple time zones and travel as required, including primarily domestic travel and occasional international travel.

Benefits:

• Full-time position based in Hyderabad, India.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development and scale-up of pharmaceutical processes supporting clinical-stage drug development.
• High-impact technical role connecting process engineering, synthetic chemistry, manufacturing, and advanced pharmaceutical technologies.
• Exposure to diverse therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and emerging approaches.
• Opportunity to work with strategic external development and manufacturing partners and collaborate across global scientific teams.
• Scope to apply advanced process modelling, continuous processing, process analytical technology, and digital technologies.
• Opportunities for scientific leadership, mentoring, and influence across multidisciplinary development programs.
• Flexible working hours to support collaboration across multiple global time zones.
• Travel opportunity of up to 20%, primarily domestic with occasional international travel.
• Dynamic environment focused on scientific excellence, innovation, patient impact, safety, and collaboration.
• Potential exposure to chemicals, allergens, and loud noises as part of the working environment.