Process Modelling Specialist – Spray Drying (Pharmaceutical CDMO)

FIS is a leading Italian company and one of the top players in Europe in the development and production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for the global pharmaceutical industry. With three production plants and more than 2.300 employees, for almost 70 years we have focused on research, quality, and sustainability.

FIS products improve the lives of millions of people: a responsibility we face with pride and passion. Join the team and become part of a company growing thanks to the commitment of those who live it every day.

We are looking for a highly skilled Process Modelling Specialist to support the industrialization and optimization of spray-drying processes. The ideal candidate will have strong multi-year expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD), multiphase flow modelling, and process simulation applied to pharmaceutical powder production. This position is critical for developing robust, scalable spray-drying processes and ensuring product quality and operational efficiency during technology transfer and commercial manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and validate CFD models (e.g., multiphase flows, particle dynamics, heat/mass transfer) to simulate and optimize spray-drying processes;
• Support process industrialization, scale-up, and technology transfer from R&D to manufacturing;
• Perform process design, including atomization behavior, droplet drying kinetics, chamber flow patterns, and cyclone/collector efficiency;
• Apply chemical engineering fundamentals and applied kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport phenomena;
• Use of mathematical models (both statistical & first principles) to enhance process understanding and effectively develop / optimize/ scale-up and troubleshoot processes;
• Interpret simulation results and translate them into actionable insights for engineering, and production;
• Collaborate with cross-functional groups (R&D, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing) to ensure model alignment with product and regulatory requirements;
• Contribute, applying mathematical models, to risk assessments, design of experiments (DoE), and process troubleshooting;
• Prepare technical documentation, reports, and presentations for internal teams and external partners.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, or related field;
• Proven expertise in CFD modelling of complex fluid-dynamic systems (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL, STAR-CCM+);
• Experience in the following simulation areas: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Discrete Element Method (DEM), Population Balance Modeling (PBM);
• Strong programming skills (familiarity with VBA, Python);
• Knowledge and experience building mathematical, statistical first principles and hybrid models;
• Proficiency in statistical, machine learning, and AI methodologies is a plus;
• Knoweldge of modeling and simulation software packages (e.g. Dynochem, gProms, Aspen+, Ansys Fluent, OpenFoam, MStar);
• Strong knowledge of spray-drying technology, fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, and powder behavior;
• Experience in pharmaceutical or other tightly regulated production environments (food, biotech, fine chemicals) is highly desirable;
• Solid understanding of process scale-up, industrial equipment, and process controls;
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-specialists;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with population balance modelling (PBM) and particle size distribution simulation;
• Familiarity with cGMP, QbD, and regulatory expectations for pharmaceutical manufacturing;
• Knowledge of data analytics tools (Python, MATLAB, JMP) for model integration and validation;
• Exposure to continuous manufacturing or advanced process technologies.

Soft Skills:

• Analytical and Problem Solving - Able to troubleshoot critical issues or problems using appropriate information and determine causes and possible solutions;
• Teamwork and Communication - Ability to work well on project teams and communicate clearly; adjusts communication style as appropriate for the audience; timely and effectively communicates with senior management; technical writing skills to support contributions to and authorship of technical documents;
• Organization – Exercises good time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple project and departmental objectives.

Office location:

F.I.S. Head Quarters is located in Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza).