Principal Scientist, Automation, Synthetic Molecules Process Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Brighter future for patients. Brighter future for you.  
As Takeda continues to steadily grow, our trusted reputation is growing and our company is evolving. We are building a business model driven by putting people first, innovative products and pipeline, and digital technologies. This offers employees an even greater ability to influence the healthcare system and do the right thing for patients throughout Japan. It also creates opportunities and an exciting future for professionals with a drive to succeed.  

Synthetic Molecules Process Development (SMPD) is responsible for the development of robust, sustainable and cost-effective drug substance (DS) processes for the manufacture of new synthetic molecule pharmaceuticals, along with methods for achieving and controlling high standards of purity and quality. 

The successful candidate will:

• Design and apply automation tools (high and medium throughput experimentation, data rich experimentation and/or robotics) across all phases of the process development lifecycle to accelerate DS route selection, process design/ optimization and characterization,
• Partner with Data Scientists, Process Modelling SMEs and Automation Engineers to help develop practices for the capture, organization, contextualization, visualization and storage of the generated data, to enhance process understanding and enable data driven decision making.
• Significantly contribute to the development of the department’s automation strategy and drive the development of new automation approaches.
• Serve on interdisciplinary departmental and cross-functional workstreams. 
• Stay current on emerging trends, new technologies, and external communities & consortia related to, e.g., Synthetic Innovation, Digital Lab, Advanced Automation, Robotics and Cobotics. 

How you will contribute:

• Develops wet- and dry-lab solutions in the context of High-Throughput, Automation, Robotics and Cobotics.
• Works on automation technology projects end to end: from project planning to implementation.
• Identifies opportunities to accelerate process development activities and executes on them by utilizing automation technologies.
• Partners with Process Engineers & PAT experts to develop automated and autonomous chemical reaction optimization platforms. 
• Works in collaboration with internal and external partners to develop and deploy next generation automation solutions.
• Partners with Control Engineers to integrate a wide range of equipment, sensors, controllers and industrial systems of varying communication protocols
• Independently designs and executes experiments.
• Assists with the development of the department’s automation strategy and communicates complex data/decisions within department and cross functionally as necessary.
• Helps defining capital, IT, and facilities requirements for automation efforts, and delivers solutions in coordination with business partners.
• Organizes, evaluates and presents data in an effective and scientific manner. 
• Learns and utilizes data science tools and applies these methods to automation.
• Develops and shares best practices across SMPD global sites
• Grows and develops an entrepreneurial network to further enhance the impact that automation can have on the broader SMPD and PharmSci function.
• Proactively analyses technical issues and coordinates potential resolution with team members.  
• Builds and maintains relationships with key vendors and assists with technical aspects of vendor negotiations.
• Responsible for authoring relevant sections of regulatory documents, reports and pier reviewed manuscripts.
• Represents Takeda and is an active member on pre-competitive collaborations with academic and industrial partners.

Minimum Requirements/ Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry or Chemical engineering and 8+ years relevant industry experience 
• Masters degree in Chemistry, Chemical engineering or related pharmaceutical science 6+ years relevant industry experience 
• PhD in Chemistry, Chemical engineering or related pharmaceutical science and 1+ years relevant industry experience 
• Demonstrated experience in the successful design and implementation of automated systems.
• Experience in hight-throughput or parallel optimization of reaction conditions.
• Previous work with automated platforms such as Unchained Labs, Chemspeed technologies, Hamilton, Tecan or the Mettler Toledo suite of reactors is a plus.
• Familiarity with both wet and solid-state analytical techniques (e.g. UPLC, GC, XRPD, Raman).
• Proven ability to translate scientific processes to automation platforms and to identify new application areas.
• The ability to successfully collaborate within an interdisciplinary scientific team comprised of organic & analytical chemists, chemical engineers, data scientists and control engineers
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and diagnose problems in analytical and automated platforms
• Experience in data analytics and programming (R, Python, Tableau, SQL, JMP, etc.) is preferred. An interest to develop data analytics and programming skills. 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Analytical and Problem Solving Skills - Able to troubleshoot critical issues or problems, and determine causes and  possible solutions 
• Teamwork -- Ability to work well in highly cross functional team environment and across global line functions.
• Communication Skills -Able to expresses one’s self clearly and concisely within team; documents issues and/or concerns concisely with colleagues; adjusts communication style as appropriate for the audience; timely and effectively communicates issues to supervisor; technical writing skills to support authorship of internal technical documents
• Organization – Exercises good time management and prioritization skills and is able to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously  
• Knowledge Sharing - Ability to capture  organizational knowledge; improve solutions, processes, and deliverables through use of information; improve information capital by contributing experience, theories, deliverables, and models for others to use
• Resource Management -Ability to manage one’s time within individual, departmental, and corporate goals and timelines; management of internal and  external resources (vendors)
• External Involvement – Demonstrated involvement in professional community evidenced by presentation of scientific posters or lectures at professional conferences or events
• Technical  -  Subject matter expertise and knowledge of applicable lab equipment and operations

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary:

• Allowances: Commutation, Housing, Overtime Work etc.

• Salary Increase: Annually, Bonus Payment: Twice a year

• Working Hours: Headquarters (Osaka/ Tokyo) 9:00-17:30, Production Sites (Osaka/ Yamaguchi) 8:00-16:45, (Narita) 8:30-17:15, Research Site (Kanagawa) 9:00-17:45

• Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, May Day, Year-End Holidays etc. (approx. 123 days in a year)

• Paid Leaves: Annual Paid Leave, Special Paid Leave, Sick Leave, Family Support Leave, Maternity Leave, Childcare Leave, Family Nursing Leave.

• Flexible Work Styles: Flextime, Telework

• Benefits: Social Insurance, Retirement and Corporate Pension, Employee Stock Ownership Program, etc.

Important Notice concerning working conditions:

• It is possible the job scope may change at the company’s discretion.

• It is possible the department and workplace may change at the company’s discretion.