Analytical Chemist

Job Title: Chemist – Process R&D & Scale-Up

Company: KanakNova Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.

Location: Taloja MIDC, Navi Mumbai

Experience: 1-4 years

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on chemist with sound knowledge of organic chemistry and practical experience in pharmaceutical APIs, intermediates, or fine chemicals. The candidate should be able to independently conduct laboratory experiments and support process transfer and scale-up through pilot trials to commercial manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory synthesis, process development, and optimisation for APIs, pharmaceutical intermediates, and fine chemicals.
• Apply a strong understanding of reaction mechanisms, stoichiometry, impurity formation, and purification techniques to solve process problems.
• Plan and execute experiments; evaluate reaction conditions, raw materials, solvents, yield, purity, reproducibility, and cost.
• Handle laboratory operations including reflux, distillation, extraction, crystallisation, filtration, and drying.
• Translate laboratory procedures into practical manufacturing processes, accounting for equipment suitability, mixing, heat transfer, addition rates, and work-up requirements.
• Support pilot and commercial batches at in-house or third-party manufacturing facilities, including on-site troubleshooting.
• Interpret analytical results such as TLC, HPLC, GC, and spectroscopic data in coordination with the analytical team.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, experimental reports, material balances, and process development records.
• Prepare process instructions, technology transfer documents, SOPs, and inputs for batch manufacturing records.
• Identify process hazards and coordinate with production and EHS teams to ensure appropriate safety assessment before scale-up.
• Follow applicable quality, safety, and environmental requirements, including safe handling of chemicals, solvents, and waste.

Qualifications and Experience

• M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry or a closely related discipline. B.Sc. Chemistry candidates with strong relevant experience may also be considered.
• 3–4 years of relevant experience in process R&D, synthesis, or production within the API, pharmaceutical intermediate, or fine chemical industry.
• Strong fundamentals in organic chemistry and demonstrated practical laboratory skills.
• Hands-on exposure to pilot or commercial manufacturing and technology transfer.
• Ability to troubleshoot reactions and communicate findings clearly to R&D, production, and quality teams.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with multi-step synthesis and impurity control.
• Familiarity with reactors, condensers, vacuum systems, filtration equipment, and dryers.
• Understanding of GMP practices, process safety, solvent recovery, and manufacturing economics.
• Ability to review scientific literature and patents for process development.

Candidate Profile

A technically sound, safety-conscious chemist who takes ownership of experiments, maintains reliable documentation, and works effectively with manufacturing teams to deliver reproducible processes from laboratory to commercial scale.

Compensation: Based on qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated capability.