Process Modelling & Simulation Lead – Synthetic Molecules Technical Development

Job description

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 At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Join Roche, where every voice matters. The Opportunity Lead the Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence (CoE): Define the strategy, vision, roadmap, standards, and governance for M&S across Synthetic Molecules Technical Development (PTDC), matrix-leading a cross-departmental community of 20+ experts around shared organizational priorities.

Drive Strategic Alignment & Leadership

Influence and guide senior leaders across an organization of 700+ employees, proposing innovative ways of working, prioritizing high-impact applications, and serving as a key cross-functional connector without direct formal authority.

Shape End-to-End M&S Strategy

Identify where mechanistic, hybrid, and data-driven modelling deliver maximum impact across both Drug Substance and Drug Product lifecycles—from early lab development through scale-up, technology transfer, and commercial manufacturing.

Deliver High-Impact Process Solutions

Act as the senior technical authority on complex development challenges, leveraging chemical engineering principles to optimize processes, support experimental design, refine scale-up/scale-down models, and support regulatory submissions.

Build Reusable Digital Capabilities

Spearhead the creation of validated model libraries, digital twins, scale-up tools, and self-service applications to establish consistent, scalable modelling standards and reduce duplicated effort across project teams.

Drive Organizational Capability & Literacy

Coach and mentor scientists and engineers, elevating M&S literacy across project teams while fostering seamless collaboration between domain experts, modellers, data scientists, and technical partner functions.

Connect Roche with External Innovation

Establish external partnerships with universities, research consortia, and technology vendors to evaluate emerging scientific advances and integrate cutting-edge M&S methodologies into the organization.

Manage Hardware & Software Strategy

Influence high-value technology investments and vendor partnerships, maintaining governance and decision-making over a six-figure software portfolio.

Who You Are

Advanced Academic Foundation: Master’s degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.

Extensive Process & Modelling Leadership

12+ years of professional experience in process engineering and M&S within the pharmaceutical or science-based industries, demonstrating deep technical expertise across end-to-end Drug Substance and Drug Product development.

Proven Matrix Leadership & Stakeholder Influence

Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives across matrixed organizations, challenge the status quo, and align senior decision-makers across PTD and R&D without relying on direct organizational authority to champion, advocate for, and bring visibility to M&S initiatives.

Advanced Modelling & Programming Expertise

Hands-on experience with industry-standard modelling platforms (e.g., gPROMS/gWAP, Dynochem) and scientific programming languages (Python, MATLAB), combined with strong knowledge of scale-up/down dynamics and pharmaceutical manufacturing phenomena.

Integration of Emerging Technologies

Deep understanding of classical mechanistic modelling, computational fluid dynamics (e.g., COMSOL, M-Star), model-based process control, PAT, and emerging AI/ML paradigms (including hybrid models, digital twins, and agentic AI).

Strategic & Conceptual Mindset

Exceptional conceptual thinking skills, with a proven track record of translating complex individual technical problems into reusable model libraries, digital capabilities, and scalable organizational frameworks.

Strong Communication & Scientific Collaboration

Fluent in English (written and spoken) with exceptional communication skills to translate sophisticated modelling concepts, assumptions, and limitations into clear, actionable insights for both technical specialists and leaders. Ready to bring your unique qualities to Roche and make an impact? Apply now and join us in our mission to shape the future of healthcare. 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.