Polymer Scientist: Scale-Up & Formulation for Drug-Device

Watershed Therapeutics; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Watershed Therapeutics in Seattle is seeking a hands-on scientist to scale a hand-assembly medical device process into a reproducible manufacturing method. You will design experiments to understand how irradiation alters polymer performance and explore new polymer formulations to improve product attributes.

You will run pilot-scale batches, document batch records, and present results to the team. This is an autonomous role in a small, fast-moving biotech setting.

Qualifications

• 1–4 years hands-on lab or manufacturing experience (thesis bench work counts).
• Demonstrated experience scaling a laboratory or hand-assembly process (pilot-scale or manufacturing experience preferred).
• Hands-on experience with polymer formulation, processing, or characterization.
• Comfort working with potent compounds/APIs and volatile solvents under containment.
• Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and drive work forward with minimal supervision.
• Clear lab notebook and batch-record writing.

Responsibilities

• Scale the current hand-assembly process - define critical parameters, improve yield and reproducibility, and document a path toward manufacturing.
• Characterize the effects of irradiation on polymer performance (mechanical, thermal, morphological, and drug-release behavior).
• Formulate and test new polymer systems (including blends) using materials such as PCLGA, EVA, and glyceryl tripalmitate.
• Work with APIs and volatile solvents under appropriate containment.
• Manufacture batches of devices or intermediate components.
• Run in vitro release testing and compile data.
• Maintain clear lab notebooks, batch records, and experimental documentation.
• Present and defend results to the team.

Skills

Process development

Polymer formulation

Data analysis

Lab notebook writing

Education

B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in chemistry or related field

Job description

Watershed Therapeutics in Seattle is seeking a hands-on scientist to scale a hand-assembly medical device process into a reproducible manufacturing method. You will design experiments to understand how irradiation alters polymer performance and explore new polymer formulations to improve product attributes.

You will run pilot-scale batches, document batch records, and present results to the team. This is an autonomous role in a small, fast-moving biotech setting.