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 Position

The Process Chemistry & Catalysis (PTDC-C) department is dedicated to designing and developing robust, cost-effective drug substance processes using state-of-the-art science and methodologies. Our work supports the synthetic molecules portfolio from initial human trials through to commercial manufacturing and regulatory submissions. As part of Small Molecules Technical Development (PTDC), we collaborate with research partners (pRED/gRED) and commercial networks to manufacture drug substances and products for clinical studies. We are a vital piece of Global Technical Development (PTD), a global organization of over 2,000 people, which sits within the broader Pharma Global Technical Operations (PT) network of 12,000 employees worldwide.

We are seeking a highly motivated Platform Leader and Expert in High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE), Transition Metal Catalysis, and AI/ML to join our PTDC-C team. In this role, you will lead our HTE platform, driving innovation in chemical reaction development by merging robotics and data science. This is a unique opportunity to directly impact our clinical pipeline while building the future of our digital lab capabilities.

The Opportunity

• Platform Leadership: Ensure the full operation and evolution of the HTE platform, improving automation workflows by evaluating new technologies and optimizing protocols for efficiency and data quality.

• Operational Excellence: Supervise HTE campaigns for reaction screening and optimization of catalytic and non-catalytic transformations, ensuring the reliability of automated systems.

• Project Collaboration: Work closely with chemistry project teams on experimental design, rigorous data analysis, and the interpretation of screening results.

• Strategic Integration: Develop and integrate AI and machine learning applications to streamline workflows, accelerate optimization campaigns, and speed up hit findings.

• External Engagement: Drive collaborations and knowledge exchange within HTE expert groups across both industry and academia.

• Mentorship & Safety: Support the training and supervision of junior associates or interns, fostering a culture of precision while ensuring full SHE compliance.

• Pipeline Impact: Leverage HTE, transition metal catalysis, and data science to drive innovation that directly supports our clinical pipeline.

Who You Are

• Academic Expertise: PhD in Chemistry with a strong foundation in organic chemistry and transition metal catalysis; experience in AI-guided reaction optimization is ideal.

• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated hands-on experience with automated laboratory equipment (robotics, liquid handlers) and data tools like Python, R, Spotfire, or JMP (DoE).

• Professional Background: Relevant industrial experience in HTE, process chemistry, or pharmaceutical development, with a focus on data science or chemical informatics.

• Operational Skills: Excellent organizational skills for managing complex experimental plans, meticulous documentation, and coding for workflow automation.

• Collaborative Mindset: An open-minded, fluent English speaker (German is a plus) who thrives in team-oriented environments and is passionate about science and technology.

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

Who we are

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.