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

Introduction to the Role:

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.

About the Role:

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.

Typical accountabilities:

• 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 drug–excipient interactions to define material control strategies.
• Deconvolute how material attributes influence product performance via, for example, wetting, hydration, disintegration, swelling, gel formation, molecular dissolution, supersaturation, precipitation and recrystallisation, and provide a solid-state and materials perspective on biopharmaceutical performance, in collaboration with biopharmaceutics and drug product colleagues.

Required skills and knowledge:

• PhD, or MSc with equivalent industrial experience, in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, materials science, spectroscopy or a related discipline, together with significant experience in pharmaceutical development.

Desirable skills and knowledge

• Practical and theoretical expertise in solid-state NMR, particularly applied to molecular interactions, local environments, molecular mobility, phase behaviour or amorphous systems.
• Familiarity with polymorph screening, complex form landscapes and crystalline form selection as complementary context to the primary focus on complex and disordered systems.
• Experience supporting higher molecular weight or otherwise complex molecules and formulations, with an understanding of how molecular architecture and physical-state behaviour influence developability and product performance.

The person we are looking for

You are a curious and collaborative scientist who can frame the right question, choose the right approach and turn complex evidence into clear project impact. You are motivated by understanding why materials behave as they do, which attributes are genuinely critical and how scientific insight can be converted into robust pharmaceutical products, processes and control strategies.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That is why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office, while respecting individual flexibility.

Ready to make a difference?

Apply with your CV and cover letter in one document no later than November 01, and join us on this exciting journey. We will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis throughout the recruitment process. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview before the advertised closing date, so we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.