Assoc. Princ. Scientist – Analytical Project Lead Pharmaceutical Development

Are you ready to shape the future of medicines—pioneering technical and scientific breakthroughs that transform patient lives? Are you passionate about converging your analytical science experience and leadership skills? Then this role might be the right one for you!

Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D) sits within Operations and is the organization that turns brilliant science into actual medicines that help millions of people. We work across the entire value chain, designing and delivering active ingredients, formulations and devices for new medicines and providing expert technical support to all AstraZeneca’s commercial drug substances and products to ensure we successfully supply medicines to patients.

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Analytical Project Lead in global product development (GPD). Our vision is to transform product design, development and characterization to enable us to deliver new medicines to patients. In this role, you will lead analytical strategy and delivery for oral solid dosage forms and/or inhaled products from early development through clinical supply and toward commercialization.

Acting as a project lead/skill lead for analytical, you will partner across formulation, device engineering, biopharmaceutics, manufacturing, QA and Regulatory to deliver robust methods, efficient control strategies, and regulatory submission ready documentation.

What you will do

We are looking for you who combines a robust knowledge (or experience) in pharmaceutical development and strong analytical background with critical thinking to generate decisive data and control strategies. You are comfortable in aligning stakeholders, set direction and resolve ambiguity to keep programs on track and meet milestones. We see that you enjoy driving learning between projects and thrive in introducing new technologies and ways of working.

Responsibilities include, but will not be limited to:

• Project leadership: Act as analytical skill lead to secure major drug product deliveries, applying a risk based, flexible approach to prioritization and timelines.
• Analytical strategy & control: Define and own the analytical control strategy aligned with CH guidelines across clinical phases.
• Method development & validation: Design, develop, validate and transfer analytical methods (e.g., HPLC/UPLC, LC–MS, dissolution, impurity profiling, aerosol characterisation, including stability indicating methods) and specification setting.
• Characterisation & performance: Lead drug product characterization and stability programs.
• CMC & regulatory: Author/review analytical CMC content for IND/IMPD/NDA/MAA, as well as validation reports, method transfer documents, specifications, responses to regulatory queries and other CMC and regulatory documents.
• Cross functional collaboration: Work closely with formulators, device engineers, aerosol scientists, manufacturing sites and external partners/CMOs to integrate analytical deliverables into project plans.
• Technical supervision & coaching: Provide scientific, regulatory and technical supervision; mentor and coach colleagues to enable project objectives and build capability.
• Problem solving: Lead complex investigations, root cause analyses and data integrity assessments; drive timely resolution and preventive actions.
• Ways of working & innovation: Enable learning between projects, and lead science/technology initiatives including patenting and/or publishing.
• Quality & governance: Ensure GxP compliance where applicable, data integrity, rigorous study design and clear communication to governance bodies.

Essential requirements

• MSc or PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific subject area (Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology or related).
• Significant experience in pharmaceutical analytical science with current knowledge of regulatory CMC requirements for clinical and/or marketing applications.
• Proven record of leading teams and/or scientific projects within a global organization and with external partners.
• Extensive experience acting as project lead/skill lead and influencing cross functional strategies.
• Strong proficiency with chromatographic techniques (HPLC/UPLC; LC–MS), dissolution, aerosol characterization techniques used for inhaled product (such as impactor analysis) and complementary methodologies for small and/or large molecules.
• Experience in method development (including use of supporting software), validation, transfer and lifecycle management under ICH guidelines and phase appropriate frameworks.
• Experience authoring CMC analytical content and responding to regulatory queries across clinical development.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills; ability to operate confidently and collaboratively across global, cross skill environments.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot technical challenges and drive data driven decisions.
• Proficiency in English, oral and written.
• Demonstrated business and digital acumen, comfort working with data rich settings and using digital tools to enhance scientific insight and decision-making.
• Ability to engage with emerging AI enabled, automation or advanced analytics approaches and translate them into practical, compliant applications within analytical development.
• A curious attitude toward new technologies, with the judgement to balance innovation, scientific rigor and regulatory expectations.

Desired skills

• Experience working in GMP environments and corresponding instrument/equipment maintenance procedures.
• Knowledge of analytical development work and CMC deliveries across projects.
• Insight into device performance characterisation (e.g., throat models, pre‑recorded inhalation profiles) and sample preparation across pMDI/DPI/nebulisation.
• Experience with statistical analysis tools (e.g., Minitab) and DoE for method development, data evaluation and acceptance criteria.
• For inhalation: advanced performance assessment techniques and aerosol characterisation; for oral products: solid-state characterisation (e.g., XRPD, DSC, TGA) and dissolution strategy.
• Experience supporting clinical manufacture and working with CMOs, including method transfer and comparability.
• Experience evaluating stability data and assigning shelf life to drug products.

At AstraZeneca, we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

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 we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility.

Join us in our unique and ambitious world and apply now! We welcome your application no later than 15th March 2026!

Date Posted

02-mars-2026

Closing Date

12-mars-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.