R&D
Where your curiosity drives the
miracles of
science
Senior Scientist, Synthetic Enabling Technologies, Process Chemistry
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:Senior Scientist, Synthetic Enabling Technologies, Process Chemistry
- Location:Montpellier, France
About the job
As Senior Scientistwithin our Synthetic Enabling Technologiesteamyou’ll be recruited as a Synthetic Process Organic Chemist with deep and demonstrableexpertise in organic chemistry, a passion for scientific innovation and an unwavering commitment to first-time success for product delivery. In this role, you will leverage your advanced knowledge of organic synthesis and data analytics to rapidly design, optimize, and scale synthetic routes for small molecule drug candidates. Your work will directly accelerate candidate selection and early clinical supply. 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:
- Apply expert-level knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms, retrosynthetic analysis, and modern synthetic methodologies to design and troubleshoot synthetic routes for new chemical entities (NCEs).
- Use AI-powered retrosynthesis and reaction prediction tools, combined with robotic platforms, to propose, execute, and evaluate synthetic routes in early development.
- Collaborate with HTE teams and data scientists to build and refine machine learning models for reaction optimization, yield prediction, and impurity profiling, using data generated from automated platforms.
- Translate optimized, robotically developed lab-scale processes to kilo-lab or pilot scale, ensuring processes are robust and suitable for early clinical supply.
- Work closely with medicinal chemistry, analytical, engineering teams to ensure seamless data flow and knowledge sharing.
- Identify, implement, and optimize new digital, automation, and robotics technologies to further accelerate early development workflows.
- Leader for designing green processes in day-to-day activities
- Maintain detailed records of automated and manual experimental work; contribute to technical reports, presentations, and regulatory documentation.
About you
Experience:
- Extensive hands-on experience in designing and executing complex multi-step syntheses, reaction optimization, and troubleshooting
- Ideally, experience in early-phase process development for small molecules (pharma or biotech preferred)
- Ideally, hands-on experience with laboratory robotics (e.g., automated synthesizers, liquid handling robots, high-throughput experimentation platforms) experienced in technologies such as photocatalysis, electrochemistry, catalysis
Soft and technical skills:
- Strong data management and analysis skills
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills; ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment
- Experience with digital lab notebooks, chemoinformatics, or reaction databases
- Prior involvement in digital transformation or AI/robotics-driven projects in early development
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements for early-phase clinical supply is a plus
Education:
- PhD in Organic Chemistry, 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 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.
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nullPursue 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
Find out more about this location
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.
"At Sanofi, we are building an R&D engine powered by the best science, digital innovation, and a commitment to transforming the lives of patients around the world."
Houman Ashrafian
EVP & Head of R&D
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