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Principal Scientist in Mass spectrometry - Job Opportunity at Sanofi

Montpellier, France
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 27, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 85,000 - 110,000 annually based on the senior-level requirements, specialized mass spectrometry expertise, pharmaceutical industry experience, and Montpellier location within a major multinational pharmaceutical company. This range reflects the premium for bioanalytical expertise in clinical development roles.

Benefits

Comprehensive career development opportunities including both vertical promotions and lateral moves domestically and internationally, providing exceptional mobility within a global pharmaceutical leader
Direct involvement in shaping departmental best practices and influencing the future direction of bioanalytical science at one of the world's largest pharma companies
Access to cutting-edge analytical technologies and AI-powered research infrastructure that positions professionals at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation
Opportunity to contribute directly to life-saving therapeutic advancements through clinical project participation, offering meaningful impact on patient outcomes
Extensive mentoring and leadership development through supervision of students and technicians, building valuable management experience
Cross-functional collaboration with global teams across Sanofi's worldwide network, providing international exposure and networking opportunities
Equal opportunity employment with strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

Key Responsibilities

Lead breakthrough analytical innovation by developing and validating highly sensitive and robust mass spectrometry assays that directly impact the success of clinical studies and regulatory submissions for Sanofi's pharmaceutical portfolio
Drive scientific excellence and problem-solving capabilities by providing creative solutions to complex analytical challenges that can accelerate drug development timelines and reduce costs
Champion laboratory advancement and knowledge transfer by mentoring the next generation of analytical scientists, building institutional expertise and strengthening team capabilities
Serve as the primary bioanalytical expert in high-stakes project meetings with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, influencing critical decision-making processes
Develop and implement comprehensive end-to-end analytical strategies for clinical-stage projects, coordinating activities from preclinical through regulatory submission in collaboration with global teams
Coordinate complex analytical workflows across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring timely delivery of critical data to support clinical milestones and regulatory requirements

Requirements

Education

Master of sciences with a track record in developing Mass Spectrometry assays for Pharmacokinetic (PK) and Pharmacodynamic (Biomarkers) supports in pharmaceutical industry or PhD degree in analytical science

Experience

Track record in developing Mass Spectrometry assays for Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic supports in pharmaceutical industry

Required Skills

Expertise in Mass spectrometry (Quantitative LC-MS and LC-HRMS) Analysis of biotherapeutics (mAb, ADCs, fusion protein, antibody fragments) Strong background in biological sample preparation including immuno-extraction GCP (Good Clinical Practices) and GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practices) regulatory framework Project management skills with ability to coordinate complex workflows Natural influencer with great communication and relationship-building skills English (fluent) Oligonucleotides bioanalysis (plus) Advanced instrumentation knowledge (plus) Interest for AI (plus) French (plus)

Certifications

GCP (Good Clinical Practices) GCLP (Good Clinical Laboratory Practices)
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Industry Trends

The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing unprecedented acceleration in bioanalytical method development driven by the rapid expansion of complex biotherapeutics including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and oligonucleotide therapeutics, creating high demand for specialized mass spectrometry expertise. This trend is particularly pronounced in clinical development where regulatory agencies are demanding more sophisticated analytical approaches for these novel modalities. Artificial intelligence integration in analytical laboratories is transforming traditional bioanalysis workflows, with pharmaceutical companies investing heavily in AI-powered method development, data analysis, and predictive modeling capabilities. Organizations are actively seeking professionals who can bridge traditional analytical expertise with emerging AI technologies to maintain competitive advantage. The shift toward personalized medicine and precision therapeutics is driving increased demand for advanced biomarker analysis and pharmacodynamic assays, requiring sophisticated mass spectrometry approaches that can detect and quantify complex biological targets with high sensitivity and specificity in clinical samples. Regulatory harmonization across global markets is creating standardized expectations for bioanalytical method validation and clinical laboratory practices, making GCP/GCLP expertise increasingly critical for pharmaceutical companies operating in multiple jurisdictions and seeking efficient regulatory pathways.

Role Significance

The role typically involves leading a matrix team of 5-8 analytical scientists, technicians, and students while coordinating with multiple global project teams. The incumbent serves as the analytical lead for multiple concurrent clinical programs, requiring management of complex resource allocation and priority setting across projects.
This Principal Scientist position represents a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership responsibilities and strategic influence over analytical strategies for clinical programs. The role combines deep subject matter expertise with cross-functional leadership and mentoring responsibilities, positioning the incumbent as a key technical decision-maker within the organization.

Key Projects

Clinical bioanalytical method development and validation for Phase I-III studies supporting regulatory submissions for novel biotherapeutics including monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates Implementation of advanced mass spectrometry platforms and AI-driven analytical approaches to enhance assay sensitivity and throughput for clinical sample analysis Cross-functional collaboration on regulatory strategy development for bioanalytical packages supporting marketing authorization applications in multiple global markets Technical leadership of analytical troubleshooting and method optimization for complex biological matrices in support of critical clinical milestones

Success Factors

Deep technical mastery of mass spectrometry instrumentation and method development combined with practical experience in pharmaceutical clinical development environments, enabling rapid problem-solving and innovative analytical solutions for complex biotherapeutics Exceptional project management and cross-functional collaboration skills that enable effective coordination of analytical activities across global teams while maintaining quality standards and meeting critical clinical timelines Strong regulatory knowledge and experience with GCP/GCLP frameworks that ensures analytical strategies align with regulatory expectations and support successful submissions across multiple global markets Leadership and mentoring capabilities that build team expertise and institutional knowledge while fostering innovation and scientific excellence within the analytical organization

Market Demand

Very High - The convergence of complex biotherapeutics development, regulatory requirements for advanced analytical methods, and the scarcity of professionals with both deep mass spectrometry expertise and clinical pharmaceutical experience creates exceptional market demand for this skill set.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Mass spectrometry expertise (LC-MS/LC-HRMS) serves as the foundational technical competency enabling development of sensitive analytical methods for complex biotherapeutics, directly impacting clinical program success and regulatory acceptance Biotherapeutics analysis experience (mAb, ADCs, fusion proteins) represents essential specialized knowledge as pharmaceutical companies increasingly focus on these complex modalities that require sophisticated analytical approaches GCP/GCLP regulatory framework knowledge ensures analytical strategies meet stringent regulatory requirements across global markets, preventing costly delays and supporting successful submissions Project management and cross-functional collaboration skills enable effective coordination of complex analytical activities across global teams while maintaining quality standards and meeting critical timelines

Beneficial Skills

Oligonucleotide bioanalysis expertise positions professionals for the rapidly expanding RNA therapeutics market, where specialized analytical approaches are becoming increasingly important for clinical development success AI and advanced instrumentation knowledge provides competitive advantage as pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in digital transformation and automated analytical platforms to improve efficiency and innovation French language skills enhance effectiveness in the Montpellier location while facilitating collaboration with European regulatory agencies and academic partners Advanced biological sample preparation techniques including immunoextraction enable development of more sophisticated assays for challenging clinical matrices and complex biomarker analysis

Unique Aspects

Direct involvement in shaping the future of bioanalytical science within one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, providing exceptional influence over analytical strategies and industry best practices
Opportunity to work with Sanofi's cutting-edge AI-powered research infrastructure while developing next-generation analytical approaches for complex biotherapeutics
Access to Sanofi's extensive global clinical development portfolio, offering exposure to diverse therapeutic areas and regulatory markets that accelerate professional development
Strategic location in Montpellier providing access to European regulatory expertise while maintaining connection to global pharmaceutical innovation networks

Career Growth

Career progression to senior leadership roles typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing individuals, with opportunities for rapid advancement driven by successful clinical program outcomes and demonstrated ability to lead complex analytical strategies.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Principal Scientist or Distinguished Scientist roles with expanded therapeutic area responsibility and strategic oversight of multiple clinical programs Bioanalytical Department Head or Laboratory Director positions with full P&L responsibility and team management across multiple analytical platforms Global Bioanalytical Strategy roles involving regulatory affairs collaboration and analytical policy development across international markets External opportunities as Chief Scientific Officer or VP of Analytical Development at emerging biotechnology companies seeking established pharmaceutical expertise

Company Overview

Sanofi

Sanofi represents one of the world's largest and most established pharmaceutical companies with a comprehensive portfolio spanning vaccines, rare diseases, immunology, and oncology. The company has undergone significant strategic transformation in recent years, focusing on innovative biotherapeutics and AI-powered drug discovery while maintaining its position as a global leader in pharmaceutical research and development.

As a top-5 global pharmaceutical company by revenue, Sanofi maintains exceptional market position with strong financial resources, extensive global infrastructure, and established regulatory relationships that provide significant advantages in clinical development and market access for innovative therapeutics.
The Montpellier location represents a key European hub for Sanofi's bioanalytical operations, providing strategic access to both European regulatory pathways and global clinical programs. This positioning offers exposure to international projects while maintaining connection to European pharmaceutical innovation networks and academic collaborations.
Sanofi's culture emphasizes scientific innovation balanced with operational excellence and regulatory compliance, creating an environment that rewards both technical expertise and collaborative leadership. The company's recent focus on AI integration and digital transformation provides opportunities for professionals to engage with cutting-edge technologies while contributing to meaningful therapeutic advancement.
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