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Biocatalysis Senior Scientist

Vitry-sur-Seine, France Salary Range   EUR 48,000.00 - 64,000.00
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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.

The job posting is in English given the significant interactions required with our global subsidiaries, for which English is the working language.

Job title: Biocatalysis senior scientist

  • Location: Vitry-sur-Seine


About the job

As Senior Biocatalysis Scientist within our CMC Synthetics-Process Chemistry Organization, you'll help design, implement, and lead innovative biocatalytic processes to deliver robust, eco-designed synthetic routes for Sanofi's medicines in the most efficient and sustainable way. You'll play a key role in shaping the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing through enzyme screening, reaction engineering, and digitalized laboratory approaches. Ready to get started?

Join our Vitry-sur-Seine site, Sanofi's Center of Expertise in biocatalysis and a cutting-edge hub for sustainable chemistry innovation. As part of the Enzyme Production & Bioprocess team, you'll lead high-impact projects driving green chemistry transformation, digital innovation (DoE, AI tools, robotics), and process scale-up across global operations. Work with a multidisciplinary expert team, shape how medicines are made more sustainably, and enjoy career growth in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where your skills will directly accelerate drug development for patients and their families.

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:

  • Define enzyme screening strategies and biocatalytic process development for projects, ensuring alignment with timelines and budgets

  • Perform reaction engineering, optimize biocatalytic transformations, and develop kinetic modeling approaches for enzymatic reactions

  • Perform fermentation activities to produce enzymes and biocatalysts

  • Implement data science solutions (DoE methodologies), program and operate robotics, and leverage digital tools for process optimization

  • Plan, supervise, and execute laboratory experiments; ensure successful technology transfer of biocatalytic processes to pilot scale

  • Document experimental work, generate comprehensive reports, and communicate results to multidisciplinary international stakeholders while maintaining scientific awareness

  • Implement change management for new ways of working, support digital transformation projects.

What we offer:

A fixed salary over 12 months, as well as profit-sharing & incentive schemes based on Sanofi Group results.

Because taking care of our employees is also our mission: 31 days of paid leave + additional RTT days depending on your status, remote working up to 2 days/week, quality health insurance, public transport reimbursement up to 80%; maternity leave (18 weeks) and parental welcome leave (14 weeks), Employee Savings & Retirement Plans with employer contributions, works council (CSE) benefits, internal and international mobility opportunities, a personalized training offering to support you throughout your career, and many more benefits to discover here.

About you

  • Experience: 3-5 years of experience in applied biocatalysis for small molecule synthesis (APIs, fine chemicals) with proven expertise in enzyme screening, biocatalytic process development and microbial fermentation
  • Soft and technical skills:
  • Knowledge of digital enablers and laboratory automation tools (robotics programming, kinetic modeling, DoE methodologies)
  •  Ability to work in multifunctional and multicultural environments with strong cross-functional collaboration skills
  •  Leadership, autonomy and decision-making skills with rigorous organization and proactive initiative
  • Analytical thinking and strategic capabilities in reaction engineering, process optimization, and scale-up technology transfer

  • Education: PHD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology or related pharmaceutical field or Master's Degree with minimum 5 year of proven experience.
  • Languages: Strong command of the English language, both spoken and written

Why choose us?

  • Lead the green chemistry revolution where biocatalysis and sustainable innovation transform how medicines are made for patients worldwide
  • Work at the forefront of digitalized bioscience that leverages robotics, AI tools, and advanced modeling to accelerate process development and scale-up
  • Collaborate beyond your expertise, sparking new ideas with diverse, multidisciplinary teams across chemistry, fermentation, engineering, and digital innovation
  •  Explore bold career paths at our state-of-the-art Vitry-sur-Seine Center of Expertise, with opportunities to grow through scientific excellence, technology transfer, and cross-functional leadership

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. 

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

Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.

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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