Principal Investigator - Process Engineer

fmc; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

FMC Corporation in Hyderabad is seeking a Principal Investigator - Process Engineer to lead development-to-manufacture efforts for drug substance processes. You will design and optimize synthetic routes, supervise cross-functional teams, and partner with CDMOs to ensure successful pilot campaigns and scalable manufacturing.

We expect strong fundamentals in chemical engineering, experience with process modeling tools, and a track record of delivering robust process designs with safety and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering required.
• Experience leading chemical engineering deliverables across development to manufacturing.
• Knowledge of process safety, risk assessments, and regulatory considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead chemical engineering deliverables for synthetic programs from development to commercial manufacturing.
• Develop PFDs, P&IDs, process descriptions, and mass/heat balance calculations.
• Participate in HAZOPs and risk assessments to ensure safety and environmental standards.
• Provide cross-functional leadership with CDMOs and manufacturing sites, including troubleshooting.
• Apply modeling and data analysis to improve process capability and cost of goods.
• Prepare engineering reports and technology-transfer packages for regulatory review.

Skills

Chemical engineering

Process development

Data analysis

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering

Tools

Aspen

MATLAB

Minitab

AutoCAD

Job description

FMC Corporation is a global leader in agricultural sciences, driven by our purpose: Innovation for Agriculture. Solutions for the Planet. We are passionate about the power of science to solve agriculture's biggest challenges. With one of the most productive and diversified pipelines in the industry, FMC is delivering cutting-edge and next-generation crop protection technologies - including Dodhylex™ active, Isoflex™ active, rimisoxafen, and fluindapyr - to help farmers increase the productivity and resilience of their land. Our employees are at the heart of this innovation. We're looking for bold thinkers and collaborative doers. At FMC, your ideas matter. From day one, you'll contribute to meaningful work that drives progress in agriculture, supported by a culture that values integrity, safety, respect, and results. Join us in advancing the future of agriculture. Together, we're building a more resilient planet - one innovation at a time.

Job Title: Principal Investigator - Process Engineer

Position summary:

The Process Development group at Innovation Center in Hyderabad works as part of an interdisciplinary team to design and develop synthetic routes for commercial manufacturing processes. Principal Investigator - Process Engineer will provide engineering support of all phases of process development, with responsibility from early stage to commercial launch. This role includes conducting laboratory-based programs to develop commercial manufacturing processes as part of a cross-functional team of process chemists, analytical chemists and engineers, also partnering with third party Contract Research Organizations (CRO) to ensure pilot campaign success and extract engineering learnings to be used in future commercial manufacturing designs.

Location: Hyderabad

The Role (daily responsibilities)

• Lead chemical engineering deliverables for assigned synthetic programs from early and/or late-stage development through process characterization, technology transfer, piloting, validation, and commercial manufacturing.
• Develop and oversee process engineering deliverables, including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), process descriptions, and detailed mass and heat balance calculations.
• Participate in rigorous risk assessments, HAZOP studies, failure-mode evaluations, and ensure adherence to safety and environmental standards.
• Provides subject matter expertise across development and scale-up, supporting technical package preparation, process and equipment fit assessment, scale-up strategies, facility readiness evaluations, technology transfer execution, validation activities, and post-transfer process stabilization.
• Provide strong technical leadership at CDMOs and manufacturing sites, including hands-on floor support, rapid troubleshooting, risk-based decision-making, issue escalation, and execution support during engineering, demonstration, pilot, and commercial campaigns.
• Build and maintain high-trust, high-accountability partnerships with external manufacturing partners by establishing clear governance, decision-making frameworks, communication pathways, performance expectations, and risk management processes.
• Lead or guide investigations, root-cause assessments, deviations, non-conformances, CAPAs, change controls, and process performance reviews using data-driven and science-based recommendations.
• Apply chemical engineering fundamentals, modeling, and manufacturing data to improve process capability, yield, purity, cycle time, safety, sustainability, productivity, and cost of goods.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and process simulation software (e.g., Aspen, MATLAB, Minitab, AutoCAD).
• Apply reaction engineering, thermodynamics, kinetics, heat and mass transfer, mixing, hydrodynamics, separations, filtration, drying, solid-liquid handling, and equipment design to development and manufacturing challenges.
• Create fit-for-purpose laboratory and engineering experiments, representative scale-down models, and process characterization studies that define mechanisms, operating ranges, robustness, and scale-up criteria.
• Integrate process safety, equipment and facility fit, material compatibility, containment, operability, maintainability, and human-factor considerations into process and technology-transfer decisions.
• Author, review, and defend engineering reports, technology-transfer packages, risk assessments, control strategy documents, technical investigations, and regulatory filing sections.
• Establish trusted relationships with CDMO leaders and technical teams while maintaining clear accountability, protecting FMC requirements, and addressing conflict or performance gaps directly and professionally.
• Distill complex technical information into concise recommendations, decision points, risks, and trade-offs for senior leaders, governance forums, regulatory stakeholders, and external partners.

The candidate (requirements)

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering (B