Entry Level Investigator Jobs in Springfield, MO

Process Chemist I, II or III in Springfield, MO
Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives
Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers' therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients' lives.
We proudly offer

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform
• And more!
  The Process Chemist brings science to life by helping turn promising chemistry into safe, reliable, and scalable manufacturing processes. Working across laboratory, kilo-scale, pilot, and commercial manufacturing environments, this role combines scientific curiosity with practical problem-solving to support process development, technical transfer, optimization, and ongoing production of pharmaceutical products and intermediates. Through strong collaboration with Manufacturing, Quality, Analytical, Engineering, Maintenance, Purchasing, and other partners, the Process Chemist helps overcome challenges, improve performance, and deliver meaningful results for our customers and the patients they serve. The scope, independence, and leadership opportunities grow with each position level.

Essential Responsibilities
Process Development & Technical Transfer

• Develop, evaluate, introduce, scale up, validate, transfer, and support chemical processes and methods, with the degree of independence determined by position level.
• Plan and perform scientifically sound, reproducible laboratory experiments and prepare laboratory- and kilo-scale quantities of materials.
• Provide technical coverage and support for pilot and commercial manufacturing, including troubleshooting unexpected results and process issues.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve process yield, quality, throughput, cost, robustness, and waste minimization.
• Review scientific literature to support experimental design, process development, troubleshooting, and technical recommendations.

Technical Documentation & cGMP Compliance

• Prepare and review process descriptions, procedures, process flow diagrams, mass balances, process summaries, technical reports, validation documentation, batch records, and SOPs.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and current project files and communicate results, risks, deviations, and recommendations clearly and promptly.
• Review proposed process changes for safety, practicality, feasibility, and cGMP impact through applicable Management of Change processes.
• Keep management informed of significant results, events, deviations from expected results, or planned work that may affect the business.

Safety, Collaboration & Technical Support

• Perform work in accordance with applicable safety and environmental laws and regulations, the site Chemical Hygiene Plan, and company policies and procedures.
• Participate as a chemistry subject matter expert in Process Hazard Analyses and other activities supporting safe manufacturing process design.
• Partner with Analytical, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Purchasing, and other functions to address technical needs, analytical methods, equipment requirements, and process performance.
• Prepare and deliver technical instructions, training, and presentations for site employees, as appropriate to position level.
• Store laboratory chemicals properly and support assigned laboratory safety inspections and responsibilities.

Level of Responsibility
Process Chemist I: Entry-level role. Performs defined project work with direct guidance, assists with experiments, documentation, technology transfer, and manufacturing support, and develops foundational technical and cGMP capability.
Process Chemist II: Developing professional role. Performs project work with increasing independence, applies broader technical knowledge to solve problems, supports process improvements and scale-up activities, and may lead defined portions of projects or technical investigations.
Process Chemist III: Advanced role. Independently leads complex development, transfer, optimization, and troubleshooting work; develops experimental and process strategies; interprets laboratory and plant data; coordinates project teams; trains others; and may communicate directly with customers and suppliers in partnership with appropriate Curia teams.
Good Manufacturing & Documentation Practices
Quality is something we take pride in together. You'll perform your work in alignment with cGMP requirements and Curia's standards to ensure our facilities support the safe and reliable manufacture of products for our customers.

• Perform all documentation in compliance with ALCOA++ principles and site SOPs.
• Adhere to applicable cGMP documents including SOPs, batch records, protocols, change controls, and controlled forms.
• Keep all required cGMP training current and escalate quality concerns along with proposed solutions to the Quality department.

Qualifications
Required
Process Chemist I: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field and 0-2 years of relevant scientific laboratory experience.
Process Chemist II: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field and 2-3 years of relevant scientific laboratory, process development, technical transfer, or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience.
Process Chemist III: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience, plus 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience, including experience with FDA-, EPA-, and OSHA-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing requirements.

• Strong laboratory skills and working knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry.
• Ability to learn new processes, apply technical knowledge, analyze data, solve problems, and make scientifically sound recommendations.
• Effective technical writing, verbal communication, presentation, planning, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Broad knowledge of modern synthetic organic methodologies and experience with multi-step synthesis, laboratory and kilo-scale work, pilot-scale operations, and process scale-up to commercial quantities.
• Ability to use and interpret data from modern analytical equipment such as NMR, HPLC, and IR.

Preferred

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or other cGMP-regulated environments.
• Knowledge of analytical techniques, procedures, process validation, statistical evaluation, and commercial manufacturing support.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear.
• Frequently required to use hands to handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, and climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• May occasionally lift and/or move up to 55 pounds.
• Visual requirements include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this role.

• Regular work in a standard office environment, with frequent entry into the production area of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
• Production environment may include moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, extreme heat, wet or humid conditions, low levels of toxic or caustic chemicals, and outdoor weather conditions.
• Noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.

This job description reflects the general nature and scope of the role and is not exhaustive. We're a growing organization, and opportunities to contribute beyond this list are part of what makes Curia exciting. We're committed to reviewing reasonable accommodation requests to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role
Other Qualifications

• Must pass a background check
• Must pass a drug screen
• May be required to pass Occupational Health Screening

Education, experience, location and tenure may be considered along with internal equity when job offers are extended.
We do not accept unsolicited assistance from any headhunters or recruitment firms for any of our job openings. All resumes or profiles submitted by search firms to any employee at Curia, in any form without a valid, signed search agreement by an authorized signatory in place for the specific position, approved by Talent Acquisition, will be deemed the sole property of Curia. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Curia because of the unsolicited referral.
All interested applicants must apply online. Please be aware of scammers. Curia will only send offer letters and requests for sensitive personal information from a curiaglobal.com email address. Curia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Curia is an E-Verify employer.