Development Scientist

About the role

Croda is a FTSE100 organization driven around our purpose of Smart Science to Improve Lives™. With over 6,000 employees across 39 countries, we are focused on the research and development of novel and highly sustainable raw materials for the Life Sciences and Consumer Care sectors. We are passionate and excited about how we can develop and utilize new technologies to shape and inspire changes within an ever-growing marketplace.

Responsibilities

• Be part of a team that values diversity, sustainability, and continuous innovation, where your ideas and contributions matter.
  • The Development Scientist I is an individual contributor who performs assigned tasks under direction and mentorship.
  • The Development Scientist II / III is an individual contributor role with increasing autonomy and technical accountability based on level.
• Responsible for the planning and execution of multi-step syntheses from laboratory to commercialization, applying sound scientific principles, literature knowledge, and structured experimental approaches such as DoE and QbD.
  • Develops, optimizes, and scales up robust, safe, and cost-effective synthetic processes from laboratory through commercial manufacturing scale in compliance with cGMP requirements.
  • Designs, executes, and interprets laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to establish process understanding, identify critical quality attributes (CQAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs), and define appropriate operating ranges.
  • Plans, prioritizes, and manages multiple development projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery against timelines, quality standards, and cost targets.
  • Serves as a technical subject matter expert in cGMP manufacturing operations applying fundamental chemistry and engineering principles to resolve complex manufacturing issues, troubleshoot challenges including investigation of deviations, non-conformances, and process changes; and recommends effective corrective and preventive actions.
  • Evaluates existing manufacturing processes to identify and implement improvements in efficiency, robustness, quality, safety, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance.
• Owns the development, optimization, and scale-up of robust, safe, and cost-effective synthetic processes from laboratory through commercial manufacturing scale in compliance with cGMP requirements.
  • Author, review, and maintain GMP documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), batch production records (BPRs), validation protocols, and technical reports, ensuring data integrity and compliance.
  • Communicates complex technical information effectively through written reports, presentations, and verbal discussions with internal teams, departmental, site, and global leadership, as well as clients and external collaborators.

Requirements

• Development Scientist I: M.S. in organic chemistry or related field (academic research experience preferred), or B.S. in organic chemistry or related field with ~ 1 to 3 years of relevant industrial or academic research experience.
• Development Scientist II: Ph.D. in organic chemistry or related field (industry or postdoctoral experience acceptable), or B.S. or M.S. in organic chemistry or related field with ~ 3 to 5 years of relevant industrial experience (cGMP experience preferred).
• Development Scientist III: Ph.D. in organic chemistry or related field with ~ 3 to 5 years of relevant industrial experience (cGMP experience preferred), or B.S. or M.S. in organic chemistry or related field with ~ 5 to 8 years of relevant industrial experience (cGMP experience preferred).

Qualifications

• Experience in the synthesis and purification of small molecules, notably lipids.
• Working knowledge of cGMP principles and regulated laboratory environments.
• Supports a positive, healthy, and flexible work environment.
• Maintains a well-documented record of work performed in presentations, laboratory notebooks, batch production records, and Process Development Reports.
• Demonstrates clear understanding of technical issues and the requirements of a viable manufacturing process; has demonstrated independent support on multiple processes.
• Identifies areas where change/continuous improvement is beneficial to the business, and successfully defends and implements projects.
• Assumes reasonable risk in trying out new, self-generated ideas.
• Proactive approach to problem identification and resolution.
• Communicates effectively in writing and verbally within and across departments and to site management; updates are clear, selective, and effective.
• Understands statistical design of experiments and draws sound conclusions from the results; uses results when solving problems, or proposing improvements.
• Computer skills, in the areas of: Microsoft Office Products – Word, Excel, PowerPoint; statistical analysis programs, Chemdraw, TopSpin, and SciFinder.

Skills

• Understanding of Croda's business goals and contributions to its strategy development.
• Reasonable accommodation for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

Benefits

• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, available immediately.
• Generous PTO.
• 401K Match.
• Wellness Reimbursement.
• Parental Leave.
• Company Paid and Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Short- and Long-term Disability.
• Paid Holidays.

Pay

Competitive salary and benefits package including:

• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, available immediately.
• Generous PTO.
• 401K Match.
• Wellness Reimbursement.
• Parental Leave.
• Company Paid and Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Short- and Long-term Disability.
• Paid Holidays.

Schedule

On-site position based at our Alabaster, AL site.

Physical Demands

• Frequent exposure to fumes or airborne particles and low levels of toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock.
• Frequent standing, walking, and sitting.
• Occasional hand use; reaching above shoulder height; climbing or balancing; stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Frequent taste or smell.
• Frequent lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Frequent exposure to fumes or airborne particles and low levels of toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Frequent exposure to moving mechanical parts, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock.
• Frequent standing, walking, and sitting.
• Frequent hand use; reaching above shoulder height; climbing or balancing; stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Frequent close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 5% travel to conferences, training, and internal / external manufacturing sites may be required.