Associate Principal Scientist – Tides Downstream Processing Expert

Associate Principal Scientist – Tides Downstream Processing Expert

Location:
Macclesfield, UK

About Astra Zeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company where we focus on the discovery, development and delivery of life-changing medicines to patients. We are also committed to sustainability and determined to minimise the environmental impact of our work. We are proud to be a great place to work, with a culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. We empower colleagues to express diverse perspectives and ensure they feel valued, respected and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

Come and join our AZ team where you will play a pivotal role in this exciting period of development!!

In Chemical Development, we believe that nothing is impossible, and we are compelled to push the boundaries of science to deliver medicines to our patients. We combine technical knowledge and understanding with talent and drive to design, develop and optimise routes and processes that deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of our medicines in a scalable, sustainable and commercially viable way.

As our portfolio continues to evolve, we are expanding our capabilities in Tides, including synthetic peptides and oligonucleotides. We now have an exciting permanent opportunity for an Associate Principal Scientist to play a leading role in Tides downstream process development and help establish the scientific and technical capabilities needed to deliver the next generation of medicines.

As Associate Principal Scientist – Tides Downstream Processing Expert, you will set the scientific direction for Tides downstream process development and lead multidisciplinary matrix teams investigating, developing and implementing processes and new technologies at manufacturing scale. You will combine this leadership with significant hands‑on scientific delivery. Laboratory work is a core expectation, and you will personally design and carry out experiments, interpret data, build process understanding and resolve complex technical challenges.

Your primary focus will be peptides, with opportunities to contribute to downstream processing strategy and capability across the broader Tides portfolio as this area develops. You will define and implement scalable strategies for key downstream stages, including global cleavage and deprotection, preparative chromatographic purification, concentration using membrane and evaporation technologies, and amorphous isolation and drying.

• Set the technical direction for downstream process development from laboratory experimentation through scale‑up, technical transfer and implementation in manufacture.

• Lead multidisciplinary matrix teams delivering process and technology work packages.

• Design, execute and interpret laboratory and in silico studies to generate process understanding, optimise processes and resolve complex technical challenges.

• Identify, evaluate, develop and implement innovative downstream processing technologies that improve robustness, scalability, sustainability, cycle time and cost.

• Develop understanding of the relationship between peptide impurity profile, physical properties and process performance, using this knowledge to select and optimise downstream processes.

• Apply modelling, process analytical technology (PAT), automation and digital approaches where they contribute to process understanding, development and control.

• Lead or support scale‑up, manufacturability assessments, technical transfer and manufacturing activities at internal and external facilities.

• Work with external partners, technology providers and contract organisations to access specialist capability and accelerate process/technology development where appropriate.

• Build organisational capability through coaching, mentoring, knowledge sharing and the development of effective scientific practices.

• Assess, document and communicate data and recommendations clearly, enabling timely and well‑informed technical decisions.

• A degree, PhD and/or equivalent qualification in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or a related scientific field.

• Substantial industrial…