12 Month University Industrial Placement Student (UIPS): Process Engineering

12 Month University Industrial Placement Student (UIPS): Process Engineering 

Macclesfield, UK 

£26,000 Base Salary, Bonus & Flexible Benefit 

About AstraZeneca:

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and fuel your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. 

About the University Industrial Placement Student (UIPS) Programme:

Join a Truly Inclusive and Supportive International Team.  

As an AstraZeneca placement student, there is a huge network of support available to you. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor, a supportive early talent peer network, and a variety of Employee Resource Groups you can join. 

We help and empower each other, and our supervisors are committed to providing you with all the guidance and support you need to build your skills, confidence and capabilities. 

Whatever your background and experience, you will be welcomed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions and share knowledge. You will be a valued part of an international team of truly supportive, collaborative and inclusive individuals.  

Macclesfield

The Macclesfield Campus is an essential part of AstraZeneca’s UK Operation and the 2nd largest operational site within the company’s global network. It is approx. 100 acres with around 4500 people working on site. The site is unique in the AstraZeneca network having Operations, R&D, G&A, IT and others on its site. 

Are you ready to explore this exciting next step in your career? Apply today! 

About the Opportunity:

The successful role holder will either work in Early Chemical, Chemical, or Global Product Development, working in multidisciplinary teams, or as part of Process Engineering groups, responsible for the application of new technologies, process development and safe manufacturing scale up, leading to right first-time campaigns. 

• Early Chemical Development is responsible for designing and rapidly optimizing synthetic routes to deliver API at small scale, enabling preclinical and early clinical studies and supporting the initial scale-up from discovery to development.
• Chemical Development is responsible for the design, scale up and delivery of the commercial chemical manufacturing processes of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API).
• Global Product Development is responsible for the formulation design, manufacturing process development, and optimisation of drug products. This includes a variety of dosage forms such as tablets and capsules as well injectable and inhalation based products.

The one-year industrial student placement will offer a mixture of drug development project work and/or a new technology project with support from an experienced engineer. Within Chemical and Early Chemical Development, students will collaborate with an engineering team on a Science & Technology-focused project and/or join a drug project team. They will support the evaluation of new technologies and scale up by engaging in both laboratory experiments and the application of modelling tools. In Global Product Development, experiences will involve laboratory work and simulation of unit operations such as feeding, blending, filling and tablet compression, primarily centred on the ongoing development of our continuous manufacturing capability.

Qualification, Skills & Experience

Required:

• Currently undertaking an undergraduate or integrated master’s degree with the opportunity to spend 1 year in industry starting in September 2026. 
• Degree subject within a Chemical, Biochemical, or Process Engineering discipline. 
• Competent in the use of coding and modelling packages such as Python, MATLAB, Aspen, gProms, Ansys CFD.  
• Strong planning and organisation skills. 

• Ability to see opportunities, learn, and apply that learning to drive innovation with good collaboration and teamworking skills. 
• Confident communicating with a wide range of stakeholders. 

Please include your CV and a cover letter in your application. 

Document requirements:

In the cover letter, please ensure you address your interest and motivation for the position, your relevant skills and experiences, any scholarships, publications, or extracurricular activity fit with the company and how this placement will help achieve your career goals.

Why AstraZeneca?  

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognising their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organisation to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting-edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come and join our journey! 

Applications Open: 1st September 2025

Applications Close: 28th September 2025

Assessment Day: 6th November 2025

Start Date: 7th September 2026

This position is a 12-month fixed term contract. 

AstraZeneca is proud to be ranked as a Top 100 ‘Best Student Employer’ in the UK by RateMyPlacement. Browse our reviews here (link) 

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements. 

Date Posted

01-Sept-2025

Closing Date

28-Sept-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.