Principal Process Engineer

AstraZeneca GmbH; Mount Vernon (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca GmbH in Mount Vernon, IN seeks a Principal Process Engineer to lead unit operations modelling and technology transfer across manufacturing sites. You will apply first-principles and reduced-order models to predict performance, resolve issues, and support scale-up and equipment integration.

The role requires advanced degree in process/chemical engineering or PhD with extensive pharma experience, plus strong leadership and communication skills to drive improvements within a matrix

Qualifications

• Understand drug development and lifecycle management.
• 7+ years pharma process experience post degree or 5+ years with PhD.
• Know CS/ECS concepts and reduced-order modeling.
• Experience with first-principles and physics-informed models.
• Familiar with raw material/finished product characterization.
• Proficient in programming, data analysis and digital tools.
• Experience with CMC elements and cGMP/SHE knowledge.
• Proven project leadership in a matrix organization.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as skill area leader for pharmaceutical unit operations and their interfaces.
• Lead technical strategic initiatives and cross-functional networks.
• Provide technical leadership to resolve manufacturing challenges.
• Develop reduced-order mechanistic models from first principles and geometry.
• Support scale-up, equipment selection and integration improvements.
• Lead transfer of processes within sites and to external partners.
• Drive regulatory support and risk-based assessments with modelling.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Process/Chemical Engineering degree

PhD with 5+ years post degree

Tools

Scientific programming

Data analysis

Modeling software

Job description

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.

Required Skills & Knowledge

• Demonstrate an understanding of the overall drug development and commercialization process from development, launch, and through life cycle management.
• Process/chemical Engineering BSc/MSc with 7+ years of relevant pharmaceutical industry experience post degree or PhD level with 5+ years of experience post degree
• Demonstrate an understanding of pharmaceutical product End-to-End Control Strategy (CS) and/or Enhanced Control Strategy (ECS).
• Have demonstrated experience in the development and application of reduced-order mechanistic and physics-informed models of pharmaceutical unit operations and equipment (e.g. mixing, drying, compression, roller compaction, continuous direct compression and coating), including models derived from equipment geometry and first-principles engineering relationships such as mass and energy balances.
• Demonstrate an understanding of physical characterisation of raw material, intermediate and final products and impact on manufacturing process robustness (e.g. mechanical testing, PSD, imaging etc).
• Have experience in scientific programming, data analysis and digital tools used to develop, implement and maintain mechanistic and hybrid (physics-informed) process models.
• Have experience with a range of CMC elements related to commercial product manufacturing process requirements – e.g., process establishment, optimisation and validation, control of drug products, stability, packaging and commercial manufacturing, with good understanding of SHE and cGMP.
• Experience in Pharmaceutical Operations and/or R&D with a track record of successful project leadership and delivery within a matrix organisation.
• Evidence of good communication and leadership skills.

Preferred Skills & Knowledge

• Experience in or exposure to multiple disciplines in CMC and related functions (e.g. Product Development, Operations, Global Supply, Marketing Companies)
• Have previous experience and training in Lean and Six Sigma, problem solving tools, Agile application.
• Have experience in physical testing techniques of raw materials, intermediate and final drug products.
• Experience in or exposure to coding and programming languages.

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.