Spray Drying & Formulation Subject Matter Expert

ProClinical; Leiden; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

ProClinical is seeking a highly skilled Spray Drying & Formulation Subject Matter Expert to join its scientific team in Leiden, Netherlands. The role focuses on owning spray-drying operations, driving process development from lab to scale-up, and delivering robust formulation solutions for challenging molecules.

You'll lead technical projects, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure GMP-compliant documentation and manufacturing support, contributing to long-term growth in formulation

Qualifications

• Significant practical experience in spray drying process development.
• Experience in design of experiments for formulation development.
• Knowledge of GMP, quality systems and regulatory expectations for pharma manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Lead spray-drying process development from lab to scale‑up.
• Design and execute formulation development studies for challenging molecules.
• Develop oral solid dosage formulations with appropriate excipients.
• Provide technical leadership across formulation development projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across manufacturing and R&D.
• Maintain high standards of GMP, documentation and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Spray drying expertise

Process development

Scale-up

GMP & quality systems

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Spray Drying & Formulation Subject Matter Expert

Formulation Scientist / Senior Formulation Scientist

Location: Leiden, Netherlands

Salary: €65,000 - €90,000 + Benefits

Sector: Pharmaceutical Development | Drug Delivery | Formulation Science | Oral Solid Dose

An innovative and rapidly growing pharmaceutical formulation company is seeking a Spray Drying & Formulation Subject Matter Expert to join its scientific team in the Netherlands.

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Formulation Scientist or Senior Formulation Scientist with expertise in spray drying to play a pivotal role in shaping future formulation and manufacturing capabilities within a successful and commercially established organisation.

The successful candidate will combine hands‑on laboratory expertise with strong scientific leadership, taking ownership of spray‑drying operations, process development activities, and downstream processing across a portfolio of challenging pharmaceutical molecules.

About the Opportunity

Join a scientifically driven organisation specialising in advanced formulation development for complex and poorly soluble compounds.

Working within a collaborative and highly technical environment, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead spray-drying process development activities from laboratory scale through to scale‑up.
• Influence future formulation and manufacturing capabilities.
• Work on technically challenging molecules requiring innovative formulation solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement across equipment, processes, documentation and working practices.
• Contribute to the long‑term growth and expansion of scientific and manufacturing teams.
• Play a visible role in technical project leadership and problem solving.

This position offers a unique opportunity to make a genuine impact within a growing business where scientific expertise is highly valued.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead spray-drying process development, optimisation, troubleshooting and scale‑up activities.
• Design and execute formulation development studies.
• Develop oral solid dosage formulations for challenging compounds.
• Select and evaluate polymers, surfactants and excipients to achieve target product performance.
• Support downstream processing activities including powder handling, blending, granulation, capsule filling and tableting.
• Maintain high standards of GMP, quality, documentation and regulatory compliance.
• Identify and implement improvements to processes, equipment and scientific workflows.
• Provide technical leadership across formulation development projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary scientific and manufacturing teams.

Essential Requirements

Critical Requirement: Spray Drying Expertise

Applicants must demonstrate significant practical experience in:

• Spray drying process development
• Spray drying equipment operation
• Process optimisation and troubleshooting
• Experimental design
• Technology transfer
• Scale‑up and manufacturing support

Additional Requirements

• Experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Knowledge of oral solid dosage form development.
• Experience selecting and evaluating formulation excipients.
• Understanding of pharmaceutical development, GMP and quality systems.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of technical programmes.
• Strong scientific problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication and project leadership capabilities.

Desirable Experience

• Amorphous solid dispersions.
• Poorly soluble compounds.
• Drug delivery technologies.
• Particle engineering.
• Downstream processing operations.
• CDMO, pharmaceutical or biotech industry experience.

Why Apply?

• Join a profitable and growing pharmaceutical company.
• Work on cutting‑edge formulation technologies.
• Influence scientific strategy and future capability development.
• Significant scope for career progression and technical leadership.
• Highly collaborative and entrepreneurial culture.
• Opportunity to become a recognised internal expert in spray drying and formulation science.

Keywords

Spray Drying Scientist, Formulation Scientist, Senior Formulation Scientist, Spray Drying Expert, Oral Solid Dose, OSD Development, Pharmaceutical Formulation, Drug Delivery, Process Development Scientist, Amorphous Solid Dispersions, Particle Engineering, Pharmaceutical Development, Scale‑Up Scientist, Downstream Processing, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Formulation Development.

This role would particularly suit candidates currently working as a Spray Drying Scientist, Formulation Scientist, Process Development Scientist, Drug Product Scientist, Pharmaceutical Development Scientist or Particle Engineering Scientist seeking a technically challenging position with significant opportunity for influence and growth.