Principal Investigator - Process Engineer

Overview

Lead chemical engineering deliverables for synthetic process development programs at FMC's Hyderabad Innovation Center, from early development through commercial manufacturing.

What you'll do

• Lead chemical engineering deliverables for assigned synthetic programs from early and/or late-stage development through process characterization, technology transfer, piloting, validation, and commercial manufacturing.
• Develop and oversee process engineering deliverables, including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), process descriptions, and detailed mass and heat balance calculations.
• Participate in rigorous risk assessments, HAZOP studies, failure-mode evaluations, and ensure adherence to safety and environmental standards.
• Provide subject matter expertise across development and scale-up, supporting technical package preparation, process and equipment fit assessment, scale-up strategies, facility readiness evaluations, technology transfer execution, validation activities, and post-transfer process stabilization.
• Provide strong technical leadership at CDMOs and manufacturing sites, including hands-on floor support, rapid troubleshooting, risk-based decision-making, issue escalation, and execution support during engineering, demonstration, pilot, and commercial campaigns.
• Build and maintain high-trust, high-accountability partnerships with external manufacturing partners by establishing clear governance, decision-making frameworks, communication pathways, performance expectations, and risk management processes.
• Lead or guide investigations, root-cause assessments, deviations, non-conformances, CAPAs, change controls, and process performance reviews using data-driven and science-based recommendations.
• Apply chemical engineering fundamentals, modeling, and manufacturing data to improve process capability, yield, purity, cycle time, safety, sustainability, productivity, and cost of goods.
• Apply reaction engineering, thermodynamics, kinetics, heat and mass transfer, mixing, hydrodynamics, separations, filtration, drying, solid-liquid handling, and equipment design to development and manufacturing challenges.
• Create fit-for-purpose laboratory and engineering experiments, representative scale-down models, and process characterization studies that define mechanisms, operating ranges, robustness, and scale-up criteria.
• Integrate process safety, equipment and facility fit, material compatibility, containment, operability, maintainability, and human-factor considerations into process and technology-transfer decisions.
• Author, review, and defend engineering reports, technology-transfer packages, risk assessments, control strategy documents, technical investigations, and regulatory filing sections.
• Establish trusted relationships with CDMO leaders and technical teams while maintaining clear accountability, protecting FMC requirements, and addressing conflict or performance gaps directly and professionally.
• Distill complex technical information into concise recommendations, decision points, risks, and trade-offs for senior leaders, governance forums, regulatory stakeholders, and external partners.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering (B.E./B.Tech. or M.E./M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering) is required.
• Ph.D. level Chemical Engineers with a strong background in chemical engineering research and organic chemistry knowledge, as well as work experience in process development, pilot plant and commercial operations.
• 10-15 years' experience in R&D process development in agrochemicals, pharmaceutical, fine or specialty chemicals industry required.
• Familiarity with concepts of developing safe and cost-effective chemical processes.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively and work in teams of scientists.
• The ability to effectively develop and test hypotheses and quickly determine the feasibility of a proposal is critical.
• Willingness to work flexibly across multiple time zones and travel as required, including primarily domestic travel and occasional international travel.
• Flexible work schedules to accommodate work performed in different geographies required.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and process simulation software (e.g., Aspen, MATLAB, Minitab, AutoCAD).

Nice to have

• A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering is preferred.
• Strong organic chemistry knowledge is a plus.
• Experience working in kilo, pilot and/or manufacturing scale environments is desirable.

Details

• Location: Hyderabad.
• Travel: primarily domestic, with occasional international travel.