Scientist / Process Engineer Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Do you have a passion for manufacturing technology and a practical, engineering mindset? Are you motivated by hands-on problem solving and interested in developing and optimizing processes for the next generation of oral medicines? Then this could be the role for you.

Pharmaceutical Technology & Development (PT&D) develops drug products and technologies to support new medicines from development through scale-up and transfer to commercial manufacturing. Within PT&D, Global Product Development (GPD) develops oral, inhaled and parenteral drug products, working to turn innovative science into medicines for patients.

Continuous Direct Compression (CDC) is a key technology for oral drug development at AstraZeneca, enabling the development of sustainable oral products for commercialization. We are now looking for a Scientist / Process Engineer to join the Process Technology and Engineering team within GPD, based at our Gothenburg site in Sweden. In this role, you will work with CDC technology and contribute to its development and the next generation of oral medicines.

01Accountabilities

We are developing Phase 3 and commercial-ready CDC manufacturing technology and are looking for an engineer or scientist who is eager to further develop their expertise in this area.

In this hands-on role, you will operate, troubleshoot and optimize CDC equipment, prepare associated technical documentation, and develop towards becoming an expert in CDC technology and the mechanical operation of the CDC line. You will contribute directly to product delivery and provide key data and insights to our drug development projects.

You will bring a passion for manufacturing and process technology, a hands-on approach to problem solving, and the curiosity to find new ways to optimize and maximize the use of the equipment.

You will also play an active part in GPD's journey to become an agile, digital-first organization that harnesses data, models and AI to accelerate development, elevate quality and deliver sustainable productivity.

You will:

• Act as a GPD expert on the CDC process, working with and sharing knowledge across project teams to support delivery of the drug project portfolio.
• Assemble, operate, troubleshoot, disassemble, and clean CDC equipment.
• Ensure all work is performed safely and in accordance with applicable quality systems and procedures.
• Develop and optimize robust manufacturing processes and technologies, using experimental and process data to understand and improve process and equipment performance.
• Prepare technical documentation and formal reports in line with current standards and, where appropriate, GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
• Support the development and implementation of manufacturing processes and technologies for control strategy, scale-up, marketing applications, technology transfer to commercial manufacturing sites, and launch.
• Assess and interpret technical and process data and communicate conclusions and recommendations to project teams, within GPD and across other functions.
• Work flexibly and prioritize effectively, applying a continuous improvement mindset and contributing to improvement projects.
• Continuously develop your technical expertise while sharing knowledge and supporting the development of others.
• Contribute to the development, validation, and use of CDC process models and digital twins to support product development and technology transfer.
• Generate and structure high-quality CDC process data in line with GPD data standards, supporting FAIR and AI-ready data for reuse in data products and models.
• Act as a Digital champion for CDC team by applying a digital-first mindset, including the appropriate use of GenAI and digital tools, to improve efficiency and ways of working.

02Essential skills & experience

• MSc or equivalent in pharmaceutical sciences, chemical engineering or related discipline.
• Recent and substantial hands-on experience assembling, operating, troubleshooting and cleaning manufacturing equipment in a laboratory, pilot-scale or manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in GLP, GMP or similarly regulated environments, with a strong focus on safety, quality systems, and accurate documentation.
• Strong knowledge of formulation and process development for oral solid dosage forms, including how material properties and process parameters affect product quality.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interpret technical and process data, communicate clear conclusions and recommendations to cross-functional project teams, and prioritize flexibly to deliver project objectives.

03Desirable skills & experience

• Experience with continuous manufacturing, ideally Continuous Direct Compression (CDC), including Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and real-time process monitoring and control.
• Demonstrated practical experience with engineering tools, data analysis and digital modelling, for example process modelling, statistics, Python or MATLAB, to analyze and understand process performance.
• Experience with, or a strong interest in, applying AI, GenAI and data-driven approaches to scientific or engineering work.
• Experience of scale-up and technology transfer to commercial manufacturing sites, including contributing to regulatory submissions.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean or Six Sigma.

Are you ready to develop your expertise in Continuous Direct Compression and contribute to the future of oral drug development? Apply today and join us in Gothenburg. We welcome your application by 22 November 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we will review applications and conduct interviews on an ongoing basis throughout the application period.