Senior Scientist, Chemical Engineer, API Manufacturing Process Development

Why Patients Need You

Pfizer's purpose is to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Research and Development is at the heart of fulfilling Pfizer's purpose as we work to translate advanced science and technologies into the therapies and vaccines that matter most. Whether you are in the discovery sciences, ensuring drug safety and efficacy or supporting clinical trials, you will apply cutting edge design and process development capabilities to accelerate and bring the best in class medicines to patients around the world.

What You Will Achieve

As a Senior Scientist, you will be at the center of our operations and you'll find that everything we do, every day, is in line with an unwavering commitment to quality. You will be responsible for the development of process technology for the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).

You will be recognized as a technical expert and a scientific contributor. With your deep knowledge of the discipline, you will be an active team member whose decisions impact the project. You will be using your scientific judgment to adapt standard methods and techniques by applying prior work experience. You will be forecasting and planning resource requirements for your project team. Your creativity in developing novel processes and new ideas will be used frequently. You will undertake mentoring activities to guide team members.

It is your innovative scientific temperament that will help in making Pfizer ready to achieve new milestones and help patients across the globe.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are seeking a chemical engineer to join the Chemical Research and Development (CRD) team in Groton. The successful candidate will join a diverse team responsible for developing robust scalable processes for use at pilot-plant and commercial scale. They will apply chemical engineering principles, computational modeling approaches, and lab-scale experimental techniques to gain process understanding and to optimize the processes for safety, efficiency, and robustness.

CRD, as part of Worldwide R&D in Pharmaceutical Sciences, is responsible for the development of process technology to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredient's (API). CRD scientists engage in all facets of development from small-scale synthesis in support of medicinal chemistry programs, to the development of the commercial synthetic route. CRD chemists and engineers collaborate with manufacturing specialists for API production in kilo-lab and pilot plant facilities, as well as provide support for technology transfer to Pfizer manufacturing sites and third-party facilities.

The successful candidate, working closely with chemists and analysts, will lead the engineering activities to help identify optimal technology (batch, semi-batch, continuous) and process operating conditions. They will support technology transfer and scale up of the developed process in our pilot plant and commercial manufacturing facilities. Given the dynamic team environment and fast-paced project timelines, strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential. The candidate will also advance both computational tools and experimental techniques to enhance the group's efficiency for developing future projects while gaining additional process insights.

How You Will Achieve It

• Apply chemical engineering principles, computational modeling tools, and experimental skills using data-rich laboratory instrumentation to develop robust unit operations and improve process understanding.
• Apply an understanding of large-scale manufacturing equipment capabilities and operations to assess scalability and robustness for API processes.
• Select, develop, and apply new process technologies to facilitate process design to achieve project goals.
• Support technology transfer of processes to internal Pfizer Global Supply (PGS) API manufacturing facilities and external suppliers. May spend time at the PGS launch site supporting process validation and Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) activities.
• Contributes to the preparation of the Chemistry and Manufacturing Controls (CMC) section of the New Drug Application (NDA). Participate in data verification, PAI preparedness, and post submission query response.
• Prepare internal research reports and technical presentations summarizing API process development activities to capture process knowledge and transfer process understanding to PGS.
• Champion the development of novel laboratory instrumentation and computational modeling tools to improve process understanding. Support the development and implementation of new and existing workflows and methodologies.
• Working with team members with expertise in process modelling and in statistics, design and execute Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology using automated lab reactor systems. Use data from these experiments to understand reaction mechanisms, to build reaction kinetic models, and to understand the kinetic and thermodynamic factors impacting various separation unit operations such as extraction, distillation, crystallization, and drying.
• Remain current with the process engineering and chemistry literature. May collaborate and author external publications and present research at external conferences.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• MS in Chemical Engineering with 5+ years of experience or PhD in Chemical Engineering with 0-3 years of relevant experience
• Excellent knowledge of chemical engineering principles including reaction kinetics, reactor design, chemical thermodynamics, heat and mass transport, engineering statistics, process modeling and simulation.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills

Nice-to-Have

• Working knowledge of reaction modeling, property prediction, and simulation computational tools including: DynoChem, VisiMix, Aspen, M-Star, and COSMOtherm
• Knowledge of Design-Expert or JMP for design and analysis of DoE studies
• Working knowledge of analytical techniques such as HPLC/UPLC, MS, PXRD, DSC, TGA, and NMR
• Working knowledge of programing, including Python and/or Matlab
• Experience in automating laboratory equipment and processes including use of LabView
• Experience using automated lab reactor systems
• Working knowledge of application of in-situ analysis tools to process understanding including: FTIR, FBRM, UV/Vis
• A good foundational understanding of organic chemistry

Other Job Details:

• Last Date to Apply: September 30, 2022
• Eligible for Employee Referral Bonus: YES
• Eligible for Relocation Package: YES

#LI-PFE

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Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

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Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.

Sunshine Act

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EEO & Employment Eligibility

Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.

Research and Development