Associate Scientist, Product Development

Catalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Catalent is seeking an Associate Scientist, Product Development in San Diego, CA. The role focuses on learning and applying basic formulation and analytical techniques to support preclinical and clinical drug products, under supervision.

Shift: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; 100% onsite at the San Diego site. Strong record-keeping and compliance with SOPs are essential as you build a foundation in pharmaceutical development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a physical, chemical, biological, or pharmaceutical science is required.
• Ability to walk, sit, and lift up to 40 pounds; good vision for documents and screens.

Responsibilities

• Conduct formulation development and characterization under supervision.
• Prepare reports, protocols, batch records, and analyses.
• Maintain accurate lab records and ensure SOP compliance.
• Support client interaction under supervisor guidance.
• Execute experimental design and analyze results.
• Receive training on GMP and ICH guidelines.

Skills

Formulation development

Analytical techniques

Record keeping

Client interaction

Literature familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in pharma/chem

Job description

About Site

Catalent’s San Diego, CA site is an early‑phase development facility supporting small‑molecule and peptide programs from preformulation through cGMP clinical manufacturing for oral and injectable dosage forms. The 68,000‑square‑foot site is a center of excellence for spray‑drying and bioavailability‑enhancement technologies, with integrated capabilities to advance challenging compounds rapidly into the clinic.

Position Summary

We have an opportunity for an Associate Scientist, Product Development to join our team. In this role, you will learn and apply basic formulation and analytical techniques to support the development of preclinical and clinical drug products. You will work under supervision to perform formulation and analytical tasks, maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and regulations. This position offers the chance to build a strong foundation in pharmaceutical development and contribute to delivering high‑quality medicines to patients.

Shift: Monday-Friday 8 AM -4:30 PM

Location: San Diego, CA

100% Onsite

The Role

• Conduct formulation development and characterization activities under supervision
• Prepare reports, summaries, protocols, batch records, and quantitative analyses
• Maintain clear and accurate record keeping in laboratory notebooks and perform secondary review of colleagues’ work for scientific accuracy and compliance as assigned
• Ensure decisions impact only personal workload
• Support client interaction under supervisor guidance
• Develop problem‑solving skills for experimental outcomes
• Maintain professional expertise through familiarity with scientific literature
• Execute experimental design under supervisor direction
• Receive training on scientific techniques, Good Manufacturing Practices, and International Council for Harmonisation guidance
• Comply with good housekeeping and safety practices
• No personnel management responsibilities

The Candidate

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a physical, chemical, biological, or pharmaceutical science required
• On an average 8‑hour day this position requires the ability to walk, sit and stand, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms at or above shoulder height and below waist height, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk and hear, smell and lift up to 40 pounds. Specific vision requirements including reading of written documents, visual inspection of materials and use of computer monitor screen frequently

Preferred Skills & Background

• Experience in drug product development preferred
• Microsoft Office experience preferred

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this position in CA is $70,500 – $72,000 Plus Bonus. The final salary offered to a successful candidate may vary, and will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, skillset, education, business needs, etc. Catalent is a multi‑state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

Why You Should Join Catalent

• Positive and fast‑paced working environment focusing on continually improving processes to remain innovative and dynamic
• Competitive Paid Time Off plus 10 paid holidays
• Medical, dental and vision benefits effective day one of employment
• Tuition Reimbursement – support to finish your degree or earn a new one
• Site‑based Employee Engagement activities such as Movie Day, Annual Blues Fest, Free Bagel Fridays and more
• Employee Resource Groups focusing on Diversity and Inclusion
• Environmentally friendly, community engagement green initiatives including regularly participating in Beach Clean‑up
• Defined career path and annual performance review and feedback process with potential for career growth
• WellHub program promoting physical wellness including onsite fitness center, yoga classes and company‑sponsored community sports teams
• Perkspot offers exclusive or private discounts from approximately 900+ merchants in a wide array of categories

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life‑saving and life‑enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to [e-mail]. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.