Mechanistic Chemist – Process Chemistry

Location: Macclesfield, UK

Salary: Competitive Salary and Benefits!

We have an exciting opportunity at Senior Scientist level to join our chemistry process, modelling and automation team as a Mechanistic Chemist. As a mechanistic-focused process chemist working closely with analytical chemists, engineers, scientists and the data science organisation, you will use Physical Organic Chemistry (POC) principles to contribute to drug-substance chemistry within pharmaceutical technology and Development (PT&D). Supporting projects to ensure progression through development and launch.

You may lead activities, coaching other scientists.

• Design and optimisation of chemical processes suitable for scale-up, with a focus on mechanistic process understanding and prediction using in silico modelling. Working without direct supervision and with the ability to train less experienced scientist to initiate, direct, and perform experimental work and implement strategies.
• Collaborating with AZ scientists or external partners to contribute to the development and optimisation of manufacturing processes for new medicines, with consideration of the requirements of speed, quality, cost, sustainability, reproducibility and efficiency.
• Fully competent in own research area in order to identify and implement best experimental practice for generating high-quality data, in an experimentally efficient way, including in collaboration with other technical specialists.
• Hold a scientific supervisory role when needed, but without line‑management responsibility.
• Drive new ways of working, in collaboration with technology experts, to focus on data driven experimentation which will act as a cornerstone to enable AZ’s modelling and simulation aspirations.
• Identification and effective communication of process risks arising from scale, equipment or process changes.
• Supporting problem solving when issues arise during development or manufacturing.
• Collaborating with digital experts to develop digital solutions for modelling and automation to deliver our bold strategy.
• Drive the adoption of digital solutions across the process chemistry community.
• Deriving and applying models based on experiments and the published literature to support control strategies for impurities across AZ’s portfolio.

• PhD in physical organic chemistry/organic chemistry with a mechanistic focus or MSc in chemistry with equivalent industrial experience.
• Experience in practical organic chemistry.
• Interest and enthusiasm for understanding reaction mechanisms and how chemical processes work on a fundamental level.
• A good understanding of synthetic methodologies, reaction mechanisms and modern analytical techniques.
• Strong understanding of digital solutions, with confidence in using them, developing them with experts, and a digital-first mindset.

• Lab-based pharmaceutical industry and/or process development experience, using a broad range of practical techniques.
• Experience in using a wide variety of off-line analytical techniques and be able to identify and implement more specialist (in-line) approaches when required by liaising with analytical experts.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: kinetics, DoE, process modelling, lab automation, PAT, continuous processing or reaction monitoring.
• Python coding skills.
• Proven record of innovation through, for instance, authorship of papers, inventor status on patents, or presenting at external conferences.
• The ability to develop and analyse multiple solutions to problems.
• Experience mentoring and driving performance and development of your peers.
• AI literacy, including the use of AI tools and machine learning models.

• Ability to challenge, innovate, think critically and flexibly, bringing new solutions and opportunities for chemical development.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex chemistry problems and provide solutions with a high attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate across interfaces of scientific disciplines, culture, and expertise both internally and externally.
• The ability to…