Senior Scientist; Solid-State Chemistry & Molecular Materials Science

Job Title:
Senior Scientist (Solid-State Chemistry & Molecular Materials Science) – Analytical Science & Technology, Global Product Development, PT&D

Location:
Macclesfield, UK

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centered biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercializing prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharma company. At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit.

In Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D) we are the bridge between brilliant science and innovative medicines that help millions of people. We work across the entire value chain, designing and delivering active ingredients, formulations and devices required to support new medicines – from supplies for use in early toxicology studies and clinical trials to developing the technology to ensure drugs can be scaled up for commercial manufacture.

We are looking for a talented and motivated Senior Scientist (Solid-State Chemistry & Molecular Materials Science) to join our Analytical Science & Technology team in Macclesfield (UK). This is a role for a scientist who can move beyond describing what is observed to explain why materials behave as they do, how that behavior influences product performance, and what actions ensure robust pharmaceutical products.

In this position, you will strengthen our solid-state science capability by applying molecular-level insight to design innovative and robust pharmaceutical materials. You will expand our expertise in solid-state physical chemistry and molecular materials science across heterogeneous systems and complex amorphous or disordered API–excipient interfaces, enabling the next generation of oral and inhaled medicines. Your project-based experience, digital mindset and drive to transform pharmaceutical development make you a strong candidate.

You will join a global team with strong expertise in small-molecule crystalline and disordered materials and complex drug product characterisation. You will complement these capabilities through molecular engineering of complex therapeutic materials and molecular-scale solid-state characterisation. Working across systems from crystalline combinations to amorphous solid dispersions, co-amorphous, spray-dried and co-processed materials, you will define and interpret the attributes that influence performance, stability and manufacturability.

This is not a role focused on routine crystalline form assessment. As a solid-state and materials science subject‑matter expert embedded within drug product teams, you will provide the molecular‑level understanding needed to design robust products and processes. Working from clinical through commercial phases, you will partner with formulators, process engineers, biopharmaceutics experts, analysts and external collaborators, combining hands‑on experimentation with computational and data‑driven approaches to turn mechanistic insight into robust, scalable products.

• Lead and deliver solid-state science activities that underpin drug product projects, ensuring delivery to agreed milestones, with a particular focus on complex amorphous and disordered systems across oral and inhalation platforms.
• Define and drive the identification of Critical Molecularly Driven Material Attributes across drug substances, excipients, intermediate drug products and their impacts on product performance and manufacturing process robustness.
• Design and conduct laboratory‑based experimental activities to assess solid-state risks and probe…