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Scientist - Analytical Development Early Stage

Cambridge, Massachusetts
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  • Job Level: Senior
  • Travel: 5-10%

The Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm Sci) organization is an integral part of global R&D at Takeda, translating science into therapeutic products for patients. When you join Pharm Sci, you become part of a team dedicated to bringing our products to life for our patients through innovation, dedication and talent while minimizing environmental impact.

We work as a member of Takeda’s Global Program Team (GPT) and take full ownership of Chemistry, Manufacturing & Control (CMC) activities — driving product development from bench to bedside.

The Pharm Sci team focuses on executing and enhancing business processes and partnering with key stakeholders and industry leaders to boldly deliver an increasingly complex portfolio. Always looking through a sustainability lens to protect our planet, we are embracing new ways of working, excelling in our data and digital transformation, building differentiated capabilities (CMC Acceleration), delivering innovative medical devices, and advancing an inclusive, innovative culture.

It is an exciting time to be in Pharm Sci. Join our journey and change the lives of patients!

Job ID R0176788 Date posted 04/03/2026 Location Cambridge, Massachusetts

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.

Job Description

Scientist Analytical Development – Early Stage

As a Scientist working in the Analytical Development Early Development team, you will be empowered to lead technical activities and represent Analytical Development Early Development within departmental and cross-functional team.

POSITION OBJECTIVES:

  • Support the transition of novel compounds (synthetic molecules, Oligonucleotide, Protacs) from Discovery into Development and development activities to support FIH clinical studies. The role will also involve continued research efforts throughout the developmental lifecycle of compounds across a wide range of activities. 
  • Interaction with Discovery Teams, Drug Safety , DMPK and close collaboration with Process Chemistry, Formulation development and Late Phase Analytical Development to achieve project goals. 
  • A strong focus will be on salt/polymorph screening, solid state analytics and analytical method development for API and Drug Product

POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Independently design, plan and execute studies on new development candidates to elucidate fundamental physicochemical properties and behaviors that enable lead candidate selection and downstream CMC development.
  • Contributes to and drives solid state screening activities
  • Lead physicochemical profiling efforts and analytical method development
  • Contributes to a cross-functional Pharmaceutical Sciences team responsible for overseeing API salt and polymorph selection and subsequent development activities
  • Develops analytical methods for release of GMP API and Drug Product.
  • Responsible for significant technical leadership within a project and assist in project strategy development across projects within the department or cross functionally
  • Interfaces with individual Pharmaceutical Science colleagues and cross functional project teams to ensure that development activities are consistent with physicochemical properties of API
  • May serve as a technical expert/SME for mentoring of junior team members
  • Responsible for integrating scientific/technical efforts around cross functional issues
  • Plans and implements resolutions to technical problems/issues
  • Supports local initiatives which may include technical or process related work streams
  • Authoring of technical reports and contributes to regulatory filings 

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:  

Education and Experience:

Required: 

  • Bachelors degree in Pharmaceutics, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, or related pharmaceutical science with 8+ years of relevant industry experience 
  • Masters degree in Pharmaceutics, physical organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, or related pharmaceutical science with 6+ years of relevant industry experience 
  • PhD in relevant discipline with 0+ years of relevant industry experience

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Strong understanding of polymorphism and solid state screening techniques
  • Strong understanding of solid state analytical techniques (XRPD/DSC/TGA/DVS)
  • Strong understanding of analytical method development (HPLC/GC/KF/Dissolution) and cGMP
  • Analytical and Problem Solving Skills - Able to troubleshoot critical issues or problems, and determine causes and identify/implement possible solutions 
  • Teamwork -- Ability to work well in highly cross functional team environment
  • Communication Skills -Able to expresses one’s self clearly and concisely within teams; documents issues and/or concerns concisely with colleagues; timely and effective communication of issues to supervisor; technical writing skills to support authorship of internal technical documents
  • Organization – Exercises good time management and prioritization skills and is able to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously 
  • Knowledge Sharing - Ability to capture organizational knowledge; improve solutions, processes, and deliverables through use of information
  • Resource Management -Ability to manage one’s time within individual, departmental, and corporate goals and timelines; management of internal and external resources (vendors)
  • Technical - strong knowledge analytical theory along with hands on experience in multiple analytical techniques (DSC, TGA, HPLC, XRPD, GC, etc) and proven ability to work in a lab setting. Working knowledge of modalities outside of traditional small molecule (Oligonucleotides, Protacs) and in silico predictive tools/modeling highly valued

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

  • May require approximately 5-10% travel.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

Cambridge, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$116,000.00 - $182,270.00


The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. 

U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/ or long-term incentives. U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation. 

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Cambridge, MA

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

Yes

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
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Where you fit in

Our teams are experienced in medicinal chemistry, multi-step synthesis, multimodal genetics, genomics datasets, pharmacokinetics and more. So wherever your expertise and passion lie, your work will have tangible outcomes, advancing an innovative pipeline that serves unmet needs.

We're delving deeper than ever inside the human body and its microbiome, implementing innovative approaches to deliver high-quality products that treat a range of illnesses, including IBD and cancer.

In our diverse, forward-thinking culture, we're constantly embracing new ways of working:

  • Partnering with research teams, GPTs, business development and our commercial partners in GMS/GQ
  • Supporting all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development
  • Providing enabling technologies, including formulation and delivery strategies, analytical expertise and IP
  • Developing processes to manufacture high-quality Clinical Trial Material and other
  • Focusing on broad therapeutic areas on multiple device platforms: Advanced Delivery Devices, Home & Point-Of-Care Diagnostics, Software & Connectivity for eHealth devices and state-of-the-art Medical Devices & Combination Products

On our team in Pharmaceutical Sciences, you’ll notice a big difference in your own life, too. You’ll be supported to develop your career. You'll connect with brilliant minds and be recognized for your accomplishments. Your curiosity, skills and dedication will have a place and a purpose. So even when you’re exploring the smallest of details, your world will be bigger than ever.

  • Perform cell processing operations

  • Support clean room activities

  • Ensure equipment maintenance

  • Support investigations in deviations

Along with incredibly passionate colleagues, there’s a clear commitment to invest in the best facilities and the right equipment needed to successfully perform world-class science.
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Briana Rawson - Lead, Human Factors Engineer

I love that I get to connect smaller, newer ventures with Takeda’s reputation and resources so that we can develop innovative ways of diagnosing and managing the conditions of patients with unmet needs.
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Rachel Whitaker - Principal Engineer, Diagnostic Devices

The heart of our work

Leading with innovation

Our pipeline

Our internal research capabilities and external partnerships contribute to an R&D engine that has produced exciting new molecular entities (NMEs) across our core Therapeutic Areas. Check out our pipeline and see how we’ll continue delivering a steady stream of next-generation therapies.

Learn more

What we believe in

Our values of Takeda-ism are Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance, with Integrity as the core. These are brought to life through actions based on Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business, in that order.

Our belief in putting people first extends beyond our patients — it includes their families and communities, as well as our Takeda colleagues and their families.

We are committed to embracing our differences, valuing different perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and empowerment.

Our embedded Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy enables us to attract and retain exceptional talent, drives innovation, and helps address systemic inequalities in our communities.

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Honesty

  • Perseverance

Working at Takeda

  • Inclusion

    Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as a vital contributor to our global team.
  • Collaboration

    A strong, borderless team, we strive together towards our priorities and inspiring mission.
  • Innovation

    Bold initiatives, continuous improvement, and creativity are at the heart of how we bring scientific breakthroughs from the lab to patients.
  • Great Place to Work

    Recognized for our culture and ways of working, we’re proud to be Certified as a Great Place to Work® in 25 countries and regions.
  • Work-Life

    Our people-first mission extends beyond patients to include their families, communities, and our own Takeda family.
  • Empowerment

    Through trust and respect, you will have genuine support from leaders, managers, and colleagues to do your best work.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

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About our location

Cambridge, Massachusetts


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