Formulation Scientist

Curia; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 x salary life scheme

Pension contribution up to 9%

Cycle to work

34 days holiday

Sick pay

Holiday buy/sell scheme

Job summary

Curia is seeking a Formulation Scientist in Glasgow with 3 years of industry experience in pharmaceutical formulation. You will lead design, pre-formulation, and process development for sterile injectable dosage forms across small molecules, biologics, and highly potent compounds.

Works within a CDMO setting to convert bench science into GMP-ready processes. The role requires strong technical expertise, collaboration across client projects, and a focus on delivering development through to

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of industry laboratory experience focused on pharmaceutical drug product formulation, pre-formulation, or process development.
• Education: Degree-level qualification in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, or related science field.
• Hands-on wet-chemistry techniques and formulation processes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver formulation design activities for small molecules, peptides, and biologics.
• Translate bench-scale variables into clinical manufacturing processes and liaise with production for GMP manufacture.
• Write work plans, project reports, and transfer documents; support client audits.
• Maintain GLP/GMP quality standards and meticulous technical notebooks.

Skills

Wet chemistry

Formulation processes

Characterisation methods

Autonomy & drive

Communication

Sterile processing knowledge

Lyophilisation (lyo)

Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF)

Education

Degree-level qualification in Chemistry or related field

Tools

XRPD

DVS

Lyophilisation equipment

Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) equipment

Job description

Curia provides global contract research and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We have a fantastic opportunity to come and join our Formulation team here in Glasgow. If you are looking to develop your experience in pharmaceutical drug manufacturing within a formulation team, this is the perfect opportunity to join Curia as we enter our next stage of Growth and work towards the gold standard in pharmaceuticals. We provide excellent training in a fast-paced environment, offering variety and progression. We pursue excellence because our work has the power to improve patients’ lives with the pharmaceuticals we develop and manufacture.

The Role

We are seeking a high-calibre Formulation Scientist with 3 years industry experience in formulation development role gained within a pharmaceutical, biotech or CDMO environment. The succesful candidate will lead and support formulation design, pre-formulation, and process development activities for sterile injectable dosage forms across a diverse range of compound categories, including small molecules, large molecules (biologics), highly potent compounds and controlled substances.

Working within a dynamic and fast paces CDMO setting, you will act as a technical subject matter expert across multiple client projects, converting bench-scale science into robust, GMP-ready manufacturing processes in advancing products from development through to clinical and commercial manufacture. This role requires strong technical expertise and a collaborative mindset an example of the responsibilities as follows:

Key Responsibilities

• Technical & Project Execution: Deliver formulation design activities for small molecules, peptides and biologics. Operate formulation and characterisation equipment, analyse complex laboratory data, and provide clear scientific explanations.
• Technology Transfer: Translate bench-scale variables (e.g., mixing protocols, filtration parameters, etc.) into workable clinical manufacturing processes. Liaise with production to ensure a seamless handoff to GMP manufacture.
• Documentation & Client Relations: Write clear work plans, project reports, and technical transfer documents. Attend and actively contribute to customer calls, act as a technical guide during timeline or data shifts, and support client audits.
• Quality & Safety Compliance: Strictly maintain GLP/GMP quality standards, follow department & site SOPs and maintain meticulous technical notebooks.

Role Requirements

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Degree-level qualification (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, or a related science field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of industry laboratory experience focused on pharmaceutical drug product formulation, pre-formulation, and/or process development. Other levels of relevant experience will be considered.
• Core Lab Skills: Hands-on experience utilising wet chemistry techniques, relevant formulation processes and characterisation methods.
• Autonomy & Drive: Proven ability to take ownership of tasks, design experiments, manage equipment care, and navigate multiple project timelines under pressure.
• Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills with strong problem-solving abilities.
• Sterile Technical Expertise: Knowledge of aseptic processing regulations and parenterally acceptable excipient functionality.
• Advanced Processing: Practical knowledge of lyophilisation cycle optimisation/development, complex formulation processes (i.e. emulsion, liposomal, suspensions, etc.) and tangential flow filtration (TFF).
• Pre-formulation Depth: Experience measuring physical properties (e.g., XRPD, DVS, pH-solubility profiles).
• CDMO Agility: Ability to switch fluidly between diverse client molecules (small molecules, biologics, peptides, highly potent compounds) while maintaining strict scope and timeline discipline.
• Up to 9% employer contribution to pension
• 4 x salary life scheme
• cycle to work
• 34 days holiday
• sick pay
• Holiday Purchase/sell scheme - 1 day’s extra holiday for every year you work here for up to 5 years