AR&D Characterization Leader - NMR Expert

SAI Life Sciences; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

SAI Life Sciences in Hyderabad is seeking an ARD Characterization Leader NMR Expert to provide scientific leadership in NMR-based characterization across diverse modalities.

You will design, execute, and interpret advanced NMR experiments to support structure elucidation, impurity profiling, and regulatory submissions, while mentoring a large scientific team and ensuring GMP/GLP compliance.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field; specialization in NMR preferred.
• 20+ years in Analytical R&D or regulated NMR labs.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex characterization projects.
• Ability to prepare regulatory-ready technical reports and decision-ready documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead NMR characterization strategies for small molecules, peptides, ADC payloads, linkers, impurities, and standards.
• Design and execute 1D and 2D NMR experiments (1H, 13C, 31P, 19F, etc.) as required.
• Interpret complex NMR datasets for structure elucidation and impurity profiling.
• Develop, qualify, and validate NMR methods in line with regulatory expectations.
• Review NMR data packages, method documents, and regulatory submissions.

Skills

NMR spectroscopy

2D NMR

Pharmaceutical characterization

ICH guidelines

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field

Tools

High-field NMR systems

NMR data processing

Job description

Position Title:ARD Characterization Leader NMR Expert
Function:Analytical Research and Development / Molecular Characterization
Location:Hyderabad, Telangana
Reporting To:Head of Analytical R&D / Characterization Sciences

Role Summary

The ARD Characterization Leader NMR Expert will provide scientific and technical leadership for nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based characterization across a diverse portfolio, including small molecules, peptides, antibody-drug conjugates, oligonucleotides, linkers, impurities, intermediates, and related complex modalities. The role is responsible for designing, executing, interpreting, and reviewing advanced one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR experiments to support structure elucidation, identity confirmation, impurity characterization, quantitative analysis, method development, regulatory submissions, and project decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead NMR characterization strategies for small molecules, peptides, ADC payloads, linkers, oligonucleotides, impurities, degradation products, intermediates, and reference standards.
• Design and execute fit-for-purpose NMR experiments including 1D proton, carbon, phosphorus, fluorine, and other relevant nuclei based on molecule class and project need.
• Apply advanced 2D NMR techniques such as COSY, TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY, ROESY, DOSY, J-resolved, HSQC-TOCSY, and selective experiments for structural assignment and connectivity confirmation.
• Interpret complex NMR datasets to support stereochemical assignment, sequence confirmation, conformational analysis, site-specific modification assessment, impurity identification, and structure confirmation.
• Develop, optimize, qualify, and validate NMR methods, including quantitative NMR approaches, in alignment with scientific, quality, and regulatory expectations.
• Provide expert review of NMR reports, analytical data packages, method documents, investigation summaries, and regulatory-supporting characterization documents.
• Collaborate with process chemistry, peptide chemistry, oligonucleotide chemistry, biologics, ADC, quality control, regulatory, and manufacturing teams to resolve analytical and structural challenges.
• Lead troubleshooting of challenging samples, low-solubility materials, mixtures, labile compounds, conjugated systems, and complex impurity profiles.
• Ensure laboratory operations comply with GLP, GMP, data integrity, safety, and internal quality standards.
• Mentor scientists and build technical capability in NMR acquisition, processing, interpretation, documentation, and scientific communication.

Required Expertise

• Deep hands‑on expertise in solution‑state NMR spectroscopy for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical characterization.
• Strong command of 2D NMR experiment selection, parameter optimization, spectral processing, peak assignment, and interpretation for complex structures.
• Demonstrated experience with characterization of small molecules, APIs, impurities, peptides, peptide conjugates, oligonucleotides, ADC‑related payloads, linkers, and linker‑payload intermediates.
• Experience supporting structure elucidation, impurity profiling, reference standard qualification, reaction monitoring, forced degradation studies, stability studies, and comparability assessments.
• Knowledge of complementary analytical techniques such as LC‑MS, HRMS, HPLC/UPLC, ion chromatography, UV, FTIR, circular dichroism, and orthogonal impurity characterization approaches.
• Understanding of ICH expectations, analytical method validation, data integrity principles, and documentation standards for regulated pharmaceutical development.

Qualifications and Experience

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely related discipline is required; specialization in NMR spectroscopy is strongly preferred.
• More than 20 years of relevant experience in Analytical R&D, structural characterization, pharmaceutical development, or a regulated NMR laboratory, with demonstrated expertise in complex molecular characterization.
• Proven record of leading complex characterization projects and providing scientific direction to cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing a multidisciplinary team of approximately 20 scientists, including workload planning, capability development, performance guidance, and delivery of project commitments.
• Experience in instrument operation, maintenance coordination, probe selection, calibration, qualification, and troubleshooting of high‑field NMR systems.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high‑quality technical reports, regulatory‑ready documents, and clear scientific presentations for internal and external stakeholders.

Leadership and Behavioural Competencies

• Scientific leadership with the ability to define characterization strategy and influence project decisions.
• Strong problem‑solving mindset for complex molecular characterization and impurity investigations.
• Excellent collaboration skills across chemistry, biology, analytical, quality, manufacturing, and regulatory teams.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop a large scientific team‑mid‑level, and junior scientists, in advanced NMR methods and analytical characterization practices.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex NMR findings into actionable project recommendations.
• Commitment to quality, safety, compliance, continuous improvement, and scientific excellence.

Preferred Capabilities

• Experience with quantitative NMR method development and validation for assay, purity, and content determination.
• Exposure to solid‑state NMR, diffusion NMR, variable‑temperature NMR, kinetics studies, and conformational analysis is advantageous.
• Experience supporting ADC, peptide, or oligonucleotide CMC programs from early development through regulatory filing is preferred.
• Familiarity with electronic laboratory notebooks, chromatography data systems, NMR processing software, and quality management systems.
• Ability to evaluate emerging NMR technologies and introduce improved workflows, automation, and data interpretation practices.