Development Scientist

Croda International•Alabaster, AL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Croda is hiring a Development Scientist for its Alabaster, Alabama site. The role develops, optimizes, and scales up cGMP manufacturing processes through hands-on laboratory experimentation, data analysis, and technical documentation. It may be filled at Level I, II, or III based on education, experience, and demonstrated capability, and offers a technical foundation and growth path toward senior technical leadership roles. The scientist plans and executes multi-step syntheses from laboratory through commercialization, using sound scientific principles, literature knowledge, and structured approaches such as Design of Experiments (DoE) and Quality by Design (QbD). The work includes process development, implementation, technology-transfer support, validation, and continuous improvement. The role collaborates across functions while independently planning laboratory work, interpreting results, and communicating findings. The successful candidate will develop robust, safe, and cost-effective processes through commercial manufacturing scale in compliance with cGMP. They will plan and interpret laboratory and pilot-scale experiments, establish process understanding, identify critical quality attributes and critical process parameters, and define operating ranges. The role also manages multiple projects, supports cGMP manufacturing operations, troubleshoots manufacturing issues and investigations, recommends corrective and preventive actions, improves existing processes, and authors and maintains GMP documentation. Technical findings are communicated to internal teams, leadership, clients, and external collaborators.

Requirements

For Level I: M.S. in organic chemistry or a related field, with academic research experience preferred; or B.S. in organic chemistry or a related field with approximately 1–3 years of relevant industrial or academic research experience.
For Level II: Ph.D. in organic chemistry or a related field, with entry-level industry or postdoctoral experience acceptable; or B.S. or M.S. in organic chemistry or a related field with approximately 3–5 years of relevant industrial experience. cGMP experience is preferred.
For Level III: Ph.D. in organic chemistry or a related field with approximately 3–5 years of relevant industrial experience; or B.S. or M.S. in organic chemistry or a related field with approximately 5–8 years of relevant industrial experience. cGMP experience is preferred.
Experience in synthesis and purification of small molecules, notably lipids.
Working knowledge of cGMP principles and regulated laboratory environments.
Ability to understand and apply statistical design of experiments and draw sound conclusions from results.
Demonstrated understanding of technical issues and the requirements of a viable manufacturing process, including independent support on multiple processes.
Proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems.
Effective written and verbal communication within and across departments and with site management.
Computer skills with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; statistical analysis programs; ChemDraw; TopSpin; and SciFinder.
Ability to travel up to 5% to conferences, training, and internal or external manufacturing sites may be required.

Nice To Haves

Academic research experience for Level I candidates with an M.S.
cGMP experience for Level II and Level III candidates.

Responsibilities

Perform assigned tasks under direction and mentorship.
Plan and execute multi-step syntheses from laboratory to commercialization using sound scientific principles, literature knowledge, and structured experimental approaches such as DoE and QbD.
Develop, optimize, implement, and scale up robust, safe, and cost-effective synthetic processes from laboratory through commercial manufacturing scale in compliance with cGMP requirements.
Support technology transfer, validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Independently plan and execute laboratory work, interpret results, and communicate findings in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
Design, execute, and interpret laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to establish process understanding, identify critical quality attributes and critical process parameters, and define operating ranges.
Plan, prioritize, and manage multiple development projects to meet timelines, quality standards, and cost targets.
Serve as a technical subject matter expert in cGMP manufacturing operations and apply chemistry and engineering principles to resolve complex manufacturing issues.
Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, including investigations of deviations, non-conformances, and process changes, and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
Evaluate manufacturing processes and implement improvements in efficiency, robustness, quality, safety, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance.
Author, review, and maintain GMP documentation, including SOPs, batch production records, validation protocols, and technical reports, ensuring data integrity and compliance.
Communicate technical information through written reports, presentations, and verbal discussions with internal teams, leadership, clients, and external collaborators.
Maintain records of work in presentations, laboratory notebooks, batch production records, and Process Development Reports.
Identify, defend, and implement beneficial business improvements; take reasonable risks in trying self-generated ideas.
Contribute technically to strategy development in support of Croda’s business goals.