Process Modeler

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.

We are seeking a Process Modeler to join the Engineering Sciences group within Chemical Research and Development (CRD) in Chennai India. CRD, as part of Pfizer Research and Development (PRD) in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Small Molecule organization, is responsible for the development of process technology to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). CRD scientists and engineers engage in all facets of development from small scale synthesis in support of Discovery programs, to the development of the commercial synthetic route. CRD colleagues partner with manufacturing specialists for API synthesis in kilo-lab and pilot plant facilities, as well as provide support for technology transfer to Pfizer manufacturing sites and third party facilities.

The selected candidate will join the Computational Process Design and Optimization group and will partner with chemists, other chemical engineers, analytical chemists and crystallization experts in this exciting, stimulating and meaningful work. They will contribute to planning, generation and delivery of high-quality work and data to support the timely progression of new chemical entities in Pfizer’s portfolio.

Under the mentorship of subject matter experts, the selected candidate will use existing knowledge and experience will be enhanced through engagement in a program of dynamic learning and training tailored to accelerate your contribution to our diverse business – in particular, the design, development, optimization, scale-up and technology transfer of manufacturing processes for intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

The select candidate will be directly apply chemical engineering principles and advance computational methodologies assisting process development as well as develop computational workflows and tools for the acceleration of CRD development workflows.

Role Responsibilities

• As a technical expert in computational fluid dynamics and multi physics models, play a leading role in the development of our strategy in process systems engineering and help establish systems engineering as a key factor in enhancing speed, quality and flexibility in the development of robust pilot and commercial manufacturing processes for intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
• Apply and use of advanced multiphysics models to describe complex processes like multiphase mixing flows, crystallization and drying
• Use expertise to develop hybrid data driven and first principle models and methodologies, design model based experimental strategies to support process scaleup and optimization.
• Use parameter estimation, global sensitivity analysis, error propagation to optimize modelling approaches to help define the process design space and analyze the effects of process deviation on process performance.
• Develop process and equipment digital twins and models.
• Interface with scientific collaborators connecting the wider technology, business and academic institutions.
• Share learnings with colleagues and look for opportunities to apply process system engineering methodologies to advance the science of manufacturing process development and scale-up for pharmaceutical and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.
• Partner closely with other process modelers, statisticians, process chemists, chemical engineers and the wider academic community to develop skills and knowledge.
• Collaborate and author novel ad impactful publications and presentations.
• Independently plan, prioritize, interpret and present own work.
• Communicate effectively to project teams and line managers and present data at departmental technical governance meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or equivalent in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.
• Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics, ideally with Lattice Boltzmann techniques and particle dynamics
• Experience with multiphase flows is desired
• Evidence of working in multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Evidence of consistently high-quality performance.
• Experience in M-Star, ANSYS Fluent desired.
• Scientific programming experience, especiallyin Python, is desirable.
• Experience with process simulators like AspenPlus, gPROMS is a plus
• Model based Experimental Design, Multivariate Analysis and Bayesian optimization is desired

Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.