Crystallization & Particle Science Expert

Join FMC’s New Global Innovation Centre in Schaffhausen

At FMC Agricultural Solutions, we provide innovative crop protection solutions to growers around the world. With the commitment of approximately 6,500 employees, we are one of the six largest crop protection manufacturers globally. Opening in early 2027, FMC’s new site in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, will bring together Technical Center and R&D teams to create a global hub for technology, innovation, and collaboration, supported by new laboratories and expanded technical capabilities.

As we build this new organization, we are looking for a Crystallization & Particle Science Expert to play a key role in shaping FMC’s future technical capabilities. The Schaffhausen Technical Center will support FMC’s manufacturing network worldwide, connecting R&D with commercial manufacturing and providing expertise in technology transfer, scale-up, process optimization, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with experts across functions and geographies and to see your technical expertise make a tangible impact across FMC’s global operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide scientific leadership in crystallization, solid-state chemistry, and particle science, serving as a technical authority for the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of active ingredient and intermediate processes.
• Develop and optimize robust crystallization processes to achieve target yield, purity, solid form, particle attributes, and manufacturability through a strong mechanistic understanding of solubility, nucleation, crystal growth, seeding, impurities, and process conditions.
• Lead solid-state and particle characterization and control strategies, including polymorphism, solvates/hydrates, particle-size distribution, morphology, agglomeration, and fines formation.
• Lead scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing support from laboratory development through commercial production, translating scientific understanding into process parameters, technical packages, troubleshooting guidance, and manufacturing solutions.
• Provide lifecycle scientific stewardship for crystallization- and particle-critical processes, driving continuous improvement and ensuring critical process knowledge, scale-up rationale, and manufacturing learning are effectively captured and retained.
• Build organizational capability and technical excellence by developing standards and best practices, mentoring technical colleagues, and promoting science- and data-driven approaches across R&D, Engineering, Analytical, Quality, Manufacturing, and other partner functions

Key Requirements

• Master’s degree in chemistry or a closely related chemical science; PhD in organic, physical-organic, crystallization, solid-state or process chemistry preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant industrial process-chemistry experience, with substantial experience in crystallization and particle science for organic chemicals.
• Demonstrated experience in crystallization development, scale-up, technology transfer, optimization and commercial troubleshooting.
• Deep expertise in crystallization science, including solubility, supersaturation, nucleation, crystal growth, polymorphism, phase behaviour, seeding and particle control.
• Experience with characterization techniques such as XRPD, DSC/TGA, microscopy, particle-size analysis, spectroscopy and chromatography
•  Strong experimental design, mechanistic problem-solving and data-analysis capability, with experience in relevant solid-state and particle characterization techniques.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership and technical authority, including the ability to influence complex decisions and drive step-change improvements.
• Strong communication, mentoring and knowledge-transfer skills, with the ability to develop capability across technical teams.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Are You Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're passionate about making a difference and share our values of diversity, collaboration, and quality, we encourage you to submit your application today. We eagerly await hearing from you!