Materials Characterisation & Formulation Scientist

Proclinical Group; Stone Cross; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Proclinical Group is partnering with a leading global pharmaceutical organisation to recruit an experienced Materials Characterisation & Formulation Scientist. The role supports drug product development, material change assessments and manufacturing performance predictions.

The ideal candidate has expertise in oral solid dosage forms, formulation and process development, manufacturing science, material characterisation, and related manufacturing operations.

Qualifications

• Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related.
• Experience in pharmaceutical development or manufacturing environments is required.
• Strong knowledge of OSD including tablets and capsules.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation and process development studies.
• Evaluate impact of API/ excipient variability on manufacturing performance and product quality.
• Assess supplier changes and material variability through lab work and risk assessment.
• Develop small-scale models of manufacturing processes.
• Investigate relationships between material attributes, process parameters and CQAs.
• Conduct studies including blending, granulation, compression, film coating, and stability assessments.
• Support process understanding, scale‑up activities and manufacturability assessments.
• Analyse data and provide scientific recommendations.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations and project updates.
• Collaborate with formulation, process, analytical and manufacturing scientists.

Skills

OSD

Formulation development

Process development

MSAT

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Material characterisation

Statistical analysis

Education

Pharmaceutical Sciences / Pharmaceutics / Chemistry / Chemical Engineering / Materials Science

Tools

DoE

Scale‑up

Job description

Are you looking to make an impact with your innovation? We are working with a well-established pharmaceutical company to recruit for a driven scientist!

Proclinical is working alongside a leading global pharmaceutical organisation is seeking an experienced Materials Characterisation & Formulation Scientist to support drug product development, material change assessments, and manufacturing process performance prediction activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a pharmaceutical scientist with expertise in oral solid dosage forms (OSD), formulation development, process development, manufacturing science, material characterisation, and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.

You will play a key role in understanding how raw material, excipient, and API variability can impact product quality, manufacturability, and process robustness, using a combination of laboratory experimentation, process understanding, and scientific data analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute formulation and process development studies.
• Evaluate the impact of API and excipient variability on manufacturing performance and product quality.
• Assess supplier changes and material variability through laboratory experimentation and risk assessment activities.
• Develop representative small-scale models of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
• Investigate relationships between material attributes, process parameters, and critical quality attributes (CQAs).
• Conduct studies involving:
  • Powder blending
  • Content uniformity
  • Wet granulation
  • Dry granulation
  • Powder flow and feeding behaviour
  • Tablet compression
  • Compaction analysis
  • Tablet sticking investigations
  • Film coating
  • Stability and robustness assessments
• Support process understanding, scale‑up activities, and manufacturability assessments.
• Analyse experimental data and provide scientific recommendations.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and project updates.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including formulation, process, analytical, and manufacturing scientists.

Skills & Experience Required

• Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Proven years' experience within pharmaceutical development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, MSAT, process development, or formulation development environments.
• Strong knowledge of oral solid dosage forms (OSD) including tablets and capsules.
• Experience with pharmaceutical manufacturing unit operations including:
  • Blending
  • Granulation
  • Compression
  • Film coating
• Understanding of material attributes and their impact on product and process performance.
• Experience designing experimental studies and interpreting scientific data.
• Knowledge of process robustness, scale‑up principles, and manufacturing performance assessment.
• Strong technical writing and scientific reporting experience.
• Excellent problem‑solving and stakeholder communication skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience supporting technology transfer, scale‑up, or commercial manufacturing.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, Design of Experiments (DoE), process modelling, simulation tools, or predictive modelling.
• Experience investigating manufacturing challenges and process performance issues.
• Familiarity with material characterisation techniques and risk‑based decision making.

What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to join a highly respected global pharmaceutical organisation.
• Complex and scientifically challenging development projects.
• Exposure to commercial manufacturing and product lifecycle activities.
• Collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
• Long-term 18-month contract opportunity.

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