Associate Principal Scientist - Process Engineer

About Astra Zeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science‑led biopharmaceutical company and our innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. This is the place to make an impact. Here we ensure everyone can reach their full potential, perform at their best and make a valued contribution to the enterprise!

PT&D is the bridge that turns brilliant science into real medicines, spanning the entire value chain— from early toxicology and clinical supplies to technology that enables robust commercial manufacture. Within PT&D, GPD leads the late‑stage design and development of drug products across a range of dosage forms. We develop the formulation, manufacturing process, and scientific understanding needed to scale, launch, and sustain new medicines.

You’ll collaborate in highly multidisciplinary teams with engineers and pharmaceutical scientists to advance life‑changing medicines for patients.

We are seeking a Associate Principal Scientist in Process Engineering with experience of solid dosage product development (tablets, capsules), and who will help grow our engineering capability within Global Product Development.

As a senior scientist you will play a key role in leading the process engineering aspects of projects in late‑stage development spanning an exciting portfolio of oral solid dosage forms (including Continuous Direct Compression).You will be an important member of a multidisciplinary team, providing input to the overall product development, designing and executing lab based and pilot plant work packages and driving the development and implementation of in silico tools to support and accelerate development.

You will be a recognized problem solver and team player who thrives under pressure and has a passion for ensuring product robustness through the development of manufacturing processes which are well understood, controlled, and capable of meeting long‑term commercial and patient needs.

• Lead engineering input for the design and development of robust manufacturing processes for oral solid dosage forms.
• Lab‑based process development: plan and execute lab‑scale experiments to facilitate project decisions.
• Shape the scientific and technical direction of product development activities through process understanding and control.
• Define and optimize critical process parameters (CPPs) and integrate them into control strategies.
• Lead or contribute to technology transfer, risk assessment, process validation and scale‑up.
• Apply modelling, simulation, digital twins and predictive tools to enhance process understanding.
• Solve key technical challenges with direct impact on current project delivery.
• Drive a culture of creativity, innovation and scientific excellence.
• Cross‑functional collaboration:
  Contribute to integrated drug product development plans within a multidisciplinary team.

• Bachelors Degree in Related Discipline (e.g. Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences) with 5 - 10 years of relevant industrial experience.
• Experience in oral solid dose development.
• Experience in late‑stage product development, technology transfer, scale‑up and process validation.
• Fundamental understanding of control strategy and risk management.
• Basic understanding of predictive science, artificial intelligence, modelling and simulation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

• Masters or PhD in Life Sciences (e.g. Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences).
• Experience with a range of unit operations e.g. continuous manufacturing, granulation, compression, coating.
• Experience with regulatory authoring and defence.
• Experience with CMOs/CROs and outsourced development.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $ – $ USD Annual. Hourly and salaried non‑exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job‑related…