Spray Drying Operator – GMP Manufacturing

About the role

WuXi AppTec’s STA Pharmaceutical Switzerland site in Couvet is launching a new spray‑drying facility. The Spray Drying Operator will run the equipment in a GMP environment, ensuring compliance with cGMP regulations and production schedules.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare solutions, suspensions or emulsions for atomisation and load them into the spray dryer.
• Configure and adjust equipment parameters such as temperature, flow rate, pressure and atomisation speed according to validated procedures.
• Execute the manufacturing batch record in real time, documenting all data and performing in‑process sampling and controls.
• Carry out equipment and room cleaning, line set‑up, format changes and first‑level maintenance (discs, nozzles, filters, seals).
• Generate maintenance requests, analyse equipment failures and support corrective actions to minimise downtime.
• Train new operators and act as an on‑the‑job qualified trainer.

Required profile

• Minimum 2 years of experience operating spray‑drying equipment in pharmaceutical production.
• Professional bachelor’s degree in industrial processes, chemistry, biochemistry, agri‑food or a related field.

Required skills

• Spray drying equipment operation and process parameter optimisation.
• GMP/cGMP compliance and batch record execution.
• First‑level maintenance of dryer components (discs, nozzles, filters, seals).
• Documentation of manufacturing data and preparation of cleaning procedures.
• Sampling and in‑process control techniques for pharmaceutical products.