Senior Scientist​/Associate Principal Scientist, Chemical Engineering R&D

Job Title:

Senior Scientist / Associate Principal Scientist, Chemical Engineering R&D

Location:

Pharmaron, Coventry, RI FLSA Status:
Exempt Salary: $100,000-$160,0000

Pharmaron is a global CRO helping pharma and biotech companies bring new therapies to life. With over 21,000 employees worldwide across 23 locations in the US, UK and China, we support drug discovery through to manufacturing with fully integrated, high-quality services.

We're proud of the impact we make and just last year, we supported over 780 discovery projects, 1,000+ CMC programmes, and 1,000+ clinical trials across all phases. Our teams are involved in everything from small molecules to biologics and gene therapies, and we work with more than 3,000 global customers. To learn more, visit

The Pharmaron Process Chemistry department is seeking highly motivated Chemical Engineers for an exciting role involving hands‑on small‑molecule process development and scale‑up from laboratory to commercial manufacturing. Engineers in this position will design, plan, and implement both chemistry laboratory and in‑silico experiments to support process and technology development for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This position will combine elements of chemistry, engineering, technology development, and data analysis to optimize manufacturing processes.

Strong teamwork, innovation, creativity, and organizational skills are essential, along with clear and confident communication to address technical challenges. Effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams in the US, UK, and China, is critical, and a strong commitment to safety, quality compliance, and technical leadership is expected throughout all activities.

• Perform hands‑on small molecule process development and scale‑up work.
• Use Design of Experiments (DoE) for process screening, optimization, and robustness studies.
• Define CPPs, PARs, NORs, and contribute to the development of scalable control strategies.
• Apply process analytical technology (PAT) and process modeling.
• Evaluate and model kinetics, mixing, mass/heat transfer, and reactor performance.
• Conduct independent research to achieve mechanistic understanding for rational process design.
• Design and optimize key unit operations including crystallization, filtration, drying, distillation, and extraction.
• Use process modeling tools to inform scale‑up strategies.
• Translate lab‑scale findings into actionable parameters for kilo‑lab and GMP manufacturing.
• Drive cycle time reduction and process intensification initiatives.
• Implement innovative technologies such as continuous flow chemistry and automation platforms.
• Support internal and external tech transfer activities, including scale‑up studies, modeling, and verification experiments.
• Support development of complex transformations such as catalytic hydrogenation.
• Exhibit a mindset of safety and quality compliance.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally within US, UK, and China‑based teams.

Education Minimum Requirement:
The position requires either a BS and/or MS in Chemical Engineering (or comparable) from an accredited college/university plus at least 5 years of relevant work experience in small‑molecule chemical process development - OR - a PhD in Chemical Engineering (or comparable) from an accredited college/university with at least 2 years of relevant work experience post PhD defense.

• Experience performing lab‑based research/process development in a chemical engineering‑related area.
• Experience with organic chemical synthesis and wet chemistry.
• Experience with small molecule pharmaceutical drug substance development.
• Experience applying statistical experimental design (i.e. Design of Experiments) and/or process modeling.
• A high level of innovation, creativity, and self‑initiative.
• Highly effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Good organizational, interpersonal, writing, and time management skills.

• Experience with process scale‑up and/or technology transfer, moving from laboratory to pilot plant or production scale.
• Familiarity with concepts and application of cGMP and GDP during pharmaceutical…