Principal Process Engineer

AstraZeneca; Mount Vernon (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca in Indiana seeks a Principal Process Engineer to drive advanced manufacturing initiatives, leading the mechanistic understanding of process-equipment interfaces and guiding scale-up strategies with first-principles engineering.

You will provide technical leadership, develop reduced-order models, support regulatory interactions, and push standardisation of equipment and processes to ensure high-quality product supply across sites and external partners.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in chemical/process engineering or a related field.
• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Strong capability in applying mechanistic modelling to identify and solve process issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy for pharmaceutical unit operations and process equipment.
• Develop and deploy reduced-order mechanistic models based on first-principles and equipment geometry.
• Guide scale-up, technology transfer, and cross-site engineering initiatives.
• Drive standardisation and modernisation of manufacturing equipment and processes to meet regulatory and quality standards.

Skills

Process engineering

First-principles engineering

Modelling and simulation

Technical leadership

Education

Master's degree in Chemical/Process Engineering

Tools

Mathematical modelling tools

Job description

Key Accountabilities

The role of the

• Serve as skill area leader for pharmaceutical unit operations with a focus on the mechanistic understanding of process-equipment interface.
• Lead of technical strategic initiatives, networks or forums within the organization related to pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Executing Technical Leadership and influencing across Operations.
• Apply process engineering principles to identify opportunities for, develop and deploy reduced-order mechanistic and physics-informed process models based on first-principles engineering and equipment geometry (e.g. mass, energy and momentum balances) to predict process performance, resolve operational issues, support scale-up and optimise equipment and system integration.
• Provide technical leadership and expertise in resolving complex manufacturing challenges through the application of first-principles engineering analysis, mechanistic modelling and simulation, developing fit-for-purpose reduced-order models to identify root causes, assess risks and improve process performance.
• Contribute to product supply strategy projects, including sourcing, asset transfers, capacity expansions, and the introduction of new equipment.
• Lead technical support for the transfer of established product manufacturing processes within internal manufacturing sites and to external partners, employing scale-up modelling, equipment selection, and comprehensive manufacturing engineering support.
• Identify opportunities for manufacturing improvement, lead impact assessments, and support the implementation of technical improvements or major change initiatives with a focus on maintaining product performance, including contributions to regulatory file authoring, license renewals, and responses to regulatory queries, supported by model-based risk assessments.
• Drive the standardisation and modernisation of manufacturing equipment and processes across Operations, leveraging advanced modelling and simulation to meet regulatory requirements, support good business practices, and ensure manufacturability and quality standards.

Key Accountabilities

The role of the Principal Process Engineer has the following responsibilities:

• Serve as skill area leader for pharmaceutical unit operations with a focus on the mechanistic understanding of process-equipment interface.
• Lead of technical strategic initiatives, networks or forums within the organization related to pharmaceutical manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Executing Technical Leadership and influencing across Operations.
• Apply process engineering principles to identify opportunities for, develop and deploy reduced-order mechanistic and physics-informed process models based on first-principles engineering and equipment geometry (e.g. mass, energy and momentum balances) to predict process performance, resolve operational issues, support scale-up and optimise equipment and system integration.
• Provide technical leadership and expertise in resolving complex manufacturing challenges through the application of first-principles engineering analysis, mechanistic modelling and simulation, developing fit-for-purpose reduced-order models to identify root causes, assess risks and improve process performance.
• Contribute to product supply strategy projects, including sourcing, asset transfers, capacity expansions, and the introduction of new equipment.
• Lead technical support for the transfer of established product manufacturing processes within internal manufacturing sites and to external partners, employing scale-up modelling, equipment selection, and comprehensive manufacturing engineering support.
• Identify opportunities for manufacturing improvement, lead impact assessments, and support the implementation of technical improvements or major change initiatives with a focus on maintaining product performance, including contributions to regulatory file authoring, license renewals, and responses to regulatory queries, supported by model-based risk assessments.
• Drive the standardisation and modernisation of manufacturing equipment and processes across Operations, leveraging advanced modelling and simulation to meet regulatory requirements, support good business practices, and ensure manufacturability and quality standards.

Date Posted

11-Sep-2026

Closing Date

01-Oct-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.