Senior Engineer; Downstream Process Development and Manufacturing

Job Overview

Snapdragon Chemistry, a Cambrex Company, is a leader in chemical process development with expertise in continuous flow and process intensification technologies. Our company is catalyzing the transformation of research, development, and manufacturing across the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries where organic chemistry underpins product development.

A successful Senior Engineer, downstream process development and manufacturing will join a dynamic team at our Waltham, MA site. The role involves developing reactor systems, optimizing purification strategies for batch and continuous flow processes, delivering high‑quality complex chemical matters to clients, and transferring process technology to client facilities.

Key responsibilities include building equipment, scaling up experiments in a laboratory setting, and applying separation and purification techniques such as chromatography, filtration, TFF, and lyophilization. Experience with continuous chromatography is preferred.

• Develop and optimize multi‑dimensional purification strategies (RP-HPLC, IEX, TFF) using mechanistic modeling and first‑principles knowledge.
• Lead the optimization of freeze‑drying cycles by determining critical process parameters (CPPs) to achieve target residual moisture.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in purification, lyophilization process development, characterization, and troubleshooting.
• Perform scale‑up studies from analytical scale purification to multi‑kilogram production scale purification.
• Participate in project teams to complete complex deliverables within stringent timelines and communicate results to key stakeholders.
• Design and construct complex reactor platforms and components with external vendor partners.
• Support system qualification, process validation, and ongoing system upgrades at external manufacturing sites.
• Support clinical‑stage API manufacturing at our facility and process transfer to external sites.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of continuous flow technology, process development principles, and best practices for regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Independently design and resolve complex process development problems with little to no oversight.
• Lead teams and mentor junior engineers.
• Serve as a general chemical engineering resource to the organization.

Required

Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, be creative and innovative, and work productively and efficiently.
• Ability to solve complex chemical engineering problems.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent collaboration skills, team‑oriented and invested in the success of others.
• Ability and demonstrated willingness to comply with, and encourage amongst others, the ethical and cultural standards of Snapdragon Chemistry.

Preferred

Experience and Skills:

• Demonstrated work in a kilo lab environment using glass reactor equipment.
• Experience assembling and/or following batch records in a GMP environment.
• Working understanding of ICH and FDA guidelines for GMP manufacture.

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemical engineering with 5‑10 years of experience or PhD in Chemical Engineering with 0‑2 years of experience.

Travel:
Not Applicable

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. Duties include standing, bending, climbing, sitting, walking, and moving up to 75 pounds or handling drums or pallets of up to 2,400 pounds with the assistance of manual handling equipment.

The employee will use hands frequently and must be able to talk, hear and perform visual tasks such as close vision and color discrimination. The work environment includes a control room and an outside production unit with multi‑level areas accessible by stairs and ladders. Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety eyewear, hearing protection, respirators, lab coats, protective body coverings, gloves)…