Large Scale Chemist

Large Scale Chemist

Onyx Scientific | Pharmaceutical CDMO | Location: Sunderland |Full-time | Permanent

Are you a chemist looking for a hands-on role where you can apply your technical expertise at scale and make a tangible impact?

At Onyx Scientific, we partner with academic, biotech, and pharmaceutical organisations worldwide, providing high-quality scientific support from early discovery through to commercial manufacture.

Due to continued growth, we're looking for GMP Chemists to join our commercial manufacturing team.

The Role

As a Large Scale Chemist, you will play a central role in scale-up activities, operating reactors in the 50L–100L range while working in line with company safety standards and SOPs. You will support the delivery of reliable, high-quality outputs and collaborate closely with colleagues across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform kilo-scale chemistry with minimal supervision
• Operate large-scale reactor processes safely and effectively
• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and housekeeping
• Write weekly reports with support and guidance
• Review completed documentation for accuracy and compliance
• Identify and report issues relating to paperwork or documentation
• Comply fully with company SOPs and training requirements
• Communicate delays, challenges, or issues clearly and constructively

The role may involve shift work at a future date.

About You

We're looking for an enthusiastic and detail-oriented chemist who enjoys practical laboratory and manufacturing work within a structured, regulated environment.

You'll be committed to working safely, maintaining high-quality standards, and ensuring documentation is completed accurately and on time. You'll be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively while contributing positively to team objectives.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Strong understanding of chemical techniques and laboratory practices.
• Experience working safely in laboratory or manufacturing environments.
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly relating to documentation and compliance.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to Health, Safety and Environmental requirements.
• Ability to follow procedures accurately and work within regulated systems.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of kilo-scale or large-scale chemical processing
• Exposure to GMP-regulated environments
• Experience working within manufacturing, scale-up, or pilot plant operations
• Experience with advanced chemical processes such as gas reactions or air-sensitive chemistry
• Familiarity with SOP-driven quality systems and documentation requirements

What You'll Bring

• A proactive and self-motivated approach
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Problem-solving ability and a continuous improvement mindset
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet operational requirements
• A collaborative attitude and willingness to support colleagues across teams
• A positive and enthusiastic approach to contributing to team success

What We Offer

🧪 The opportunity to work on meaningful manufacturing and scale-up projects

🤝 A supportive and collaborative scientific environment

Career development within a growing pharmaceutical CDMO

Benefits

✨ Company events

🚲 Cycle to work scheme

🧠 Health & wellbeing programme

🛡 Life insurance

Private medical insurance

🚗 Free on-site parking

If you're passionate about chemistry and keen to make a meaningful contribution within a collaborative GMP commercial manufacturing environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to join the Onyx Scientific team.