Senior Scientist (Inhalations)

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Senior Scientist - Inhalations

We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.

At PPD, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.  

We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services.  

Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.  

Location/Division Specific Information  

Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought-leaders and therapeutic guides. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.  

This role is based in the Inhalation team at our GMP Analytical testing laboratory in Athlone, Ireland.

Job Summary:
The role of Sr Scientist - Inhalations is to independently performs complex laboratory testing and provides hands-on technical coaching and mentorship within the laboratory. You will be focused on being an in-lab proven contributor who actively executes, troubleshoots, and improves testing activities while developing indepth subject matter expertise in assigned methods, assays, or analytical platforms.

A Senior Scientist may operate either as a non-routine technical contributor for method development, transfer, or validation activities or as a key technical resource for complex or priority routine testing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Independently performs complex laboratory testing, including challenging routine testing, analytical investigation support, development, transfer, or validation activities.
• Communicates analytical needs, resources, and/or barriers with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintains a strong hands-on laboratory presence and serves as a technical resource during test execution.
• Actively assists with testing execution, troubleshooting, and optimization rather than directing work from outside the lab.
• Applies advanced scientific judgment to execution strategy, data interpretation, and problem resolution.
• Develops and maintains subject matter expertise in one or more analytical methods, assays, or platform technologies.
• Serves as a technical escalation point for execution level testing issues encountered during routine (release, stability, quality control) or non-routine (development, transfer, validation) work.
• Identifies method, execution, or workflow improvements that enhance data quality and downstream routine testing robustness.
• May independently execute or technically lead defined components of method development, transfer, or validation work.
• Authors and/or reviews non-routine technical deliverables such as methods, protocols, reports, and quality records.
• Supports transition of improved or newly established methods into routine testing by strengthening clarity, robustness, and usability.
• Acts as a key in-lab technical resource for complex or escalated routine testing.
• Assists analysts with execution strategy, atypical results, and troubleshooting for established methods.
• Supports quality management through hands-on data review and root cause analysis.
• Trains, mentors, and equips Scientist I and II staff through direct laboratory involvement and technical coaching.
• Reinforces best practices through example and active participation in testing activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Educated to a bachelor's degree level in a relevant area, ie chemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical science or similar  

• 5+ years’ relevant industry experience within a GMP laboratory with experience in HPLC and Empower is essential 

·         Analytical experience must include analytical testing support for inhalation devices (pMDIs, DPIs, nebulizers, nasal sprays and novel devices) 

• Experience in Method Validation, Method Transfer and Analytical testing. 

In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities  

• Demonstrated proficiency within a lab environment to include HPLC, GC, MS, Dissolution testing, Karl Fischer, UV-vis, FT-IR, TOC.  

• Testing experience of inhalation devices with cascade impaction, dose delivery and particle size analysis. 

• Detailed knowledge of method validation; method development would be an advantage.  
• The ability to plan, schedule and carry out work for successful project completion  
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, with the ability to identify analytical challenges at the source and implement effective solutions
• A positive attitude and ability to work well with others  
• Excellent attention to detail  

Why Join Us?
When you join Thermo Fisher Scientific, you become part of a global team that values passion, innovation, and a commitment to scientific excellence. You’ll work in an environment where collaboration and development are part of the everyday experience—and where your contributions truly make a difference.

Apply today to help us deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

We welcome and encourage applicants from outside of Ireland.  We can provide support with immigration and visa needs for successful applicants and dependents, tax consultations and other basic destination services.  All other relocation costs are at the expense of the applicant.