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Senior Scientist (Organic Chemist), Synthetic Enabling Technologies, Process Chemistry

Montpellier, France
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At a glance

Bring your curiosity to a team where deep immunoscience meets cutting-edge innovation. Across oncology, rare diseases, neurology, and vaccines, you’ll work at the intersection of lab science and AI-powered discovery — all while collaborating across boundaries to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Whether you want to deepen your scientific expertise or grow as a leader, you’ll find the opportunity here.

Le contenu du poste est libellé en anglais car il nécessite de nombreuses interactions avec nos filiales à l’international, l'anglais étant la langue de travail.

This job offer is accessible to all, regardless of gender.

Job title:Scientist (Organic Chemist), Synthetic Enabling Technologies, Process Chemistry

  • Location:Montpellier, France

About the job

We are seeking a talented and motivated Scientist Organic Chemist to join our Synthetic Enabling Technologies team within the Process Chemistry organization. This Scientist role is hands-on and laboratory-focused, requiring deep expertise in organic and process chemistry, along with strong skills in rapid reaction optimization to enable efficient scale-up from lab bench to chemical plant.

The ideal candidate will have strong interest in laboratory automation and will play a key role in developing and optimizing synthetic routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). You will contribute to a variety of challenging and diverse projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams to advance drug candidates from early development through clinical trials and into commercial manufacturing.

Your work will directly accelerate candidate selection and early clinical supply, making a tangible impact on the success of our pipeline. Ready to get started?

About Sanofi:

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main responsibilities:

  • Plan and conduct organic synthesis experiments and chemical reactions in the laboratory
  • Design, develop, and optimize synthetic routes for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using the right technology to allow smooth and rapid scale up to pilot-scale operations
  • Perform chemical analyses and compound characterization using a range of online/offline analytical techniques
  • Support technology transfer to manufacturing sites, fostering innovation and continuous improvement in synthetic methodologies
  • Troubleshoot technical issues at the interface of chemistry and manufacturing, providing effective solutions
  • Serve as the primary technical contact within the team, anticipating challenges and implementing proactive measures
  • Oversee and ensure the proper maintenance and operational readiness of specific scientific equipment
  • Communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively to multidisciplinary audiences and stakeholders
  • Mentor junior scientists and offer technical leadership and guidance
  • Document all experimental work and continuous improvement efforts in a digital lab notebook and compile findings into comprehensive technical reports

About you

Experience:

  • Proven experience in synthetic organic chemistry and process development
  • Demonstrated ability to translate laboratory processes to pilot/industrial scale
  • Experienced in working on different types of chemical modalities ie small molecules, peptides, lipids

Ideally, experience with:

  • Rapid extrapolation of chemical processes in early-phase process development for small molecules (pharma or biotech preferred)
  • Automation platforms and digital tools for reaction monitoring and control

Soft and technical skills:

  • Organic Chemistry & Synthesis: Designing and executing synthetic routes, understanding reaction mechanisms, Troubleshooting chemical processes
  • Analytical Skills: Chemical analysis techniques, chromatography (HPLC, GC), spectroscopy (NMR, MS, IR), data interpretation
  • Strong data management and analysis skills
  • Technical Problem-Solving: Process troubleshooting, root cause analysis, risk assessment, Solution development
  • Experience with digital lab notebooks, chemoinformatics, or reaction databases
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills; ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment

Education:

  • Ph-D in organic chemistry or MSc in Organic Chemistry with 7+ years of experience, Process Chemistry, or related field, with a strong academic record and proven expertise in synthetic organic chemistry

Languages:

  • English, French, both fluent

Why choose us?

  • Drive innovation at the intersection of chemistry, digital science, and robotics
  • Accelerate the path from discovery to clinic for life-changing medicines
  • Collaborate with leading scientists, engineers, and digital experts
  • Access to state-of-the-art AI, automation, and robotics platforms
  • Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team
  • Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally
  • Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact
  • Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave

PursueProgress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and dowhat’snever-been-done-before.You’llhelp push boundaries, challengeconvention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives?Let’sPursueProgressand DiscoverExtraordinary– together.

At Sanofi, weprovideequal opportunities to all regardless of race,color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Watch 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com

Apply now
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Why work with us

  • Expand your horizons. Grow through curiosity, with support to move, learn, and lead in a culture that champions mentorship, mobility, and bold development.

  • Accelerate results with technology. Harness the power of AI and automation to push scientific boundaries and reimagine what's possible in drug discovery.

  • Impact through inclusive innovation. Help deliver better science and fairer outcomes by driving inclusive research that reaches more people, in more meaningful ways.

  • Turn patient needs into breakthrough science. Drive scientific breakthroughs that start with patient needs – and end in treatments that change lives.

Meet Nils Libert, Associate Scientist

Meet Nils Libert, an Associate Scientist in Belgium, where he plays a key role in advancing groundbreaking research. Learn how his work helps drive innovation, uncover new scientific possibilities, and contribute to life-changing treatments that impact patients around the world.

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EVP & Head of R&D

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