Sr Scientist - Chemical Engineer for Drug Linker

Pfizer Inc.; Bothell (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pfizer Inc. is seeking a Senior Scientist-Chemical Engineer to join the DL Process Development team in Bothell, WA.

You will design and optimize scalable DL manufacturing processes, coordinating with chemists and analysts to enable technology transfer to production sites and partnerships. The role emphasizes strong reactor design, modeling, and data-driven decision making, with opportunities to advance process technologies and drive robust, compliant manufacturing outcomes across Pfizer’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 9+ years of experience OR a Master's with more than 7+ years OR PhD with 0+ years of relevant experience.
• Candidates with additional years of work experience will be considered for an appropriate level for their background
• Expertise in reaction engineering, including experience developing and validating kinetic models from experimental data
• Excellent knowledge of chemistry and chemical engineering principles and understanding of reactor design, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, statistics and process modeling
• Outstanding laboratory skills, attention to detail, and ability to solve technical problems
• Exceptional interpersonal, multi-disciplinary teamwork and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Applies engineering knowledge to develop safe, scalable DL processes aligned with Pfizer needs.
• Lead and/or support purification and isolation process development for internal materials supply.
• Design, implement, and interpret data-rich experiments.
• Plan tech transfer and scale-up activities for pilot and commercial sites.
• Collaborate with chemists on route development and process optimization.
• Develop and implement new technologies for process improvement at external partners.

Skills

Reaction engineering

Kinetic modeling

Chemical reactor design

Process modeling

Data analysis

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelors +9+ yrs

Masters +7+ yrs

PhD +0+ yrs

Tools

DynoChem

Reaction Lab

ASPEN

gPROMS

MATLAB

COSMOtherm

Job description

Use Your Power for Purpose

At Pfizer, our purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Central to this mission is our Research and Development team, which strives to translate advanced science and cutting‑edge technologies into impactful therapies and vaccines. Whether you are involved in discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy, or supporting clinical trials, your role is crucial. You will leverage innovative design and process development capabilities to accelerate the delivery of best‑in‑class medicines to patients globally.

What You Will Achiev e

We are seeking a highly motivated chemical engineer for the role of Senior Scientist-Chemical Engineer to join our DL Process Development team within Chemical Process and Analytical Development (CPAD) in Bothell, WA. You will join a diverse team responsible for developing Drug Linker (DL) processes for use at manufacturing plants across Pfizer’s network. Chemical engineering principles contribute to the successful development, optimization and scale up of DL manufacturing processes. You will design and perform engineering‑related laboratory experiments, integrating process modeling, statistics, and solid-state analysis. Strong communication, high technical aptitude, and creativity to foster original ideas are required for success in this position. CPAD, as part of Pfizer R&D in Pharmaceutical Sciences, is responsible for the development of process technology to manufacture DL for Antibody Drug Conjugate. CPAD scientists engage in all facets of development from small‑scale synthesis in support of medicinal chemistry programs, to the development and optimization of the commercial DL manufacturing process. In collaboration with chemists and analysts, you will lead the engineering activities during process development, process scale up, and technology transfer to our clinical and commercial manufacturing sites and external facilities. Given the dynamic team environment and fast‑paced project timelines, strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential. This laboratory‑based position offers the opportunity for cross‑training and developing new technologies.

In this role, you will:

• Applies technical and functional engineering knowledge to develop safe, sustainable, robust, scalable, cost-efficient and phase‑appropriate process that are aligned with internal business needs.
• Prepare internal research reports and technical presentations summarizing process development activities to capture process knowledge and transfer process understanding to Pfizer’s manufacturing partners.
• Lead and/or support purification and isolation process development for internal pre‑clinical materials supply.
• Design, implement, and interpret data rich experiments independently.
• Design experiments to assess scalability of manufacturing processes to ensure successful tech transfer.
• Understand unit operation design, process modeling and optimization, process equipment selection, and scale‑up methodologies.
• Utilize various process modeling approaches to ensure robust tech transfer to pilot and commercial scale facilities.
• Assist technology transfer of processes to internal or external clinical and commercial manufacturing sites and external partners. May spend time at tech transfer site supporting manufacturing activities.
• Collaborate with process chemists and analytical chemists on synthetic strategy and route development.
• Develop and implement new technologies for process improvement at external manufacturing partners
• Maintains suitable knowledge on lab data management systems and applies suitable modeling tools to gain process knowledge from data rich experiments
• Remain current with the process engineering and chemistry literature. May collaborate on and author external publications and present research at external conferences.
• Build a safe, inclusive, and innovative culture within the engineering and chemistry labs.
• Work collaboratively and effectively, building and leading high performing teams
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of experimental work, and clear and concise presentation of work to stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Look for opportunities to align, share and implement best practices across sites.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Applicant must have a bachelor's degree with at least 9+ years of experience; OR a master's degree with more than 7+ years of experience; OR PhD with 0+ years of relevant experience.
• Candidates with additional years of work experience will be considered for an appropriate level for their background
• Expertise in reaction engineering, including experience developing and validating kinetic models from experimental data
• Excellent knowledge of chemistry and chemical engineering principles and sound understanding of chemical reactor design, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, engineering statistics, and process modeling
• Outstanding laboratory skills, attention to detail, and ability to solve technical problems
• Exceptional interpersonal, multi-disciplinary team collaboration, and communication skills

Nice-to-Have

• Experience with technical transfer of processes into external manufacturing partners
• Experience using Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) such as Raman, FTIR, NIR, on-line HPLC, and FBRM
• Experience with separation processes such as Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF), membrane separation, chromatography purification, or Supercritical Fluid Precipitation/Extraction
• A good foundational understanding of organic chemistry
• Experience building reaction or unit operation models with software such as DynoChem®, Reaction LabTM, ASPEN, gPROMS, VisiMix,, COSMOtherm, and MatLab
• Knowledge and experience applying Design of Experiments
• Strong organization, time management, and problem‑solving skills
• A team player with good communication skills, desire to achieve team and individual goals
• Strong technical writing and presentation skills
• Working knowledge of analytical techniques such as HPLC/UPLC, MS, PXRD, DSC, TGA, and NMR
• Applied data science methods, such as machine learning and AI

NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

Due to the need to support global operations, the employee may be required to attend teleconference meetings that are outside of core work hours in Pacific Time.

Local business travel to support vendor oversight activities Sunshine Act

Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.

EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.

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To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.