HTE Principal Associate/Scientist in Process Chemistry

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections,  where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Process Chemistry & Catalysis (PTDC-C) team is dedicated to designing and developing robust and cost-effective drug substance processes using state-of-the-art science and methodologies. Our critical work supports the synthetic molecules portfolio from the initial entry into human trials through the transfer to commercial manufacturing, including the necessary support for regulatory submissions. We are a key part of Small Molecules Technical Development (PTDC), which develops our synthetic pipeline and manufactures drug substance and drug product for clinical studies, collaborating closely with research partners and the commercial manufacturing network.

We are seeking a highly motivated and technically skilled early career scientist to join the PTDC-C team. This is a hands-on laboratory role situated at the nexus of modern chemistry, automation, and data science, where you will be a key driver in our state-of-the-art High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE) laboratory. This position directly impacts our clinical pipeline by accelerating the discovery and development of robust and scalable drug substance processes and offers a unique opportunity to build the future of our digital lab capabilities.

• Drive the day-to-day execution of HTE campaigns for chemical reaction screening and optimization, ensuring the operational excellence and reliability of automated laboratory systems.

• Execute and optimize a wide range of chemical experiments, from milligram to decagram scale, including reactions under pressure, utilizing advanced robotic and automation platforms.

• Collaborate closely with chemistry project teams on experimental design, contributing to rigorous data analysis, documentation, and interpretation of screening results.

• Act as a "super-user" and first point of contact for operational issues, maintaining and troubleshooting state-of-the-art HTE instrumentation (e.g., solid dispensers, reaction execution platforms, liquid handlers, parallel autoclaves).

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of automation workflows by evaluating new technologies, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing protocols for efficiency, robustness, and data quality.

• Support the training and supervision of junior associates or interns, actively promoting a culture of safety, precision, and collaboration.

• Ensure all work is meticulously documented, analyzed, and presented to project teams.

• Hold a Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering and possess a minimum of 2 years (with Master's) or 4 years (with Bachelor's) of relevant industrial or academic experience, preferably in process chemistry, catalysis, or pharmaceutical development.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience with automated laboratory equipment (e.g., liquid handlers, automated synthesis platforms) and a strong foundational knowledge of organic chemistry and chemical reaction optimization. Direct experience in a HTE setting is a plus.

• A natural problem-solver with excellent organizational skills, a proven ability to manage complex experimental plans, analyze data, and maintain meticulous documentation.

• Experience with statistical Design of Experiments (DoE) principles/software (e.g., JMP) or proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Python, R, Spotfire) is preferred.

• Possess strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English (written and spoken). Fluency in German is a plus.

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Please note that this is a 2-year fixed-term contract

Ready for the next step? We look forward to hearing from you. Apply now to discover this exciting opportunity

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100'000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let's build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.