Scientist 1, Product Development

Catalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays and PTO

Onsite wellness programs

Job summary

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 Scientist 1, Product Development will plan and execute simple experiments, develop formulations, and communicate project status to management and clients.

You will gain experience with analytical techniques and contribute to training while ensuring GMP/SOP compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s of Science degree is required plus a minimum of one (1) year of drug product development experience
• We will also accept a Master’s of Science without any formal industry experience
• Individual needs to be accessible to lab and office staff and able to use required office equipment

Responsibilities

• Conduct formulation studies and characterization of drug products for preclinical or human clinical dosage forms
• Independently design and execute simple experiments; seek supervisor assistance for complex designs
• Make decisions that may impact workload and project timelines
• Interpret data with limited guidance, identifying key factors and understanding findings
• Maintain clear and accurate records in laboratory notebooks and review colleagues’ work for accuracy and compliance
• Increase client interaction, including leading technical discussions related to projects
• Stay current with scientific literature to maintain professional expertise
• Develop understanding of cGMPs and Catalent SOPs and systems relevant to assigned work
• Comply with good housekeeping and safety practices
• May supervise a laboratory assistant
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Formulation development

Analytical techniques

Lab notebook discipline

Client communication

Education

Bachelor of Science

Master of Science

Tools

DSC

PXRD

SEM

TGA

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 a Scientist 1, Product Development to join our team. In this role, you will work with a high degree of autonomy to plan and execute simple laboratory experiments and communicate project status to management and clients. You will apply creativity and innovation to problem solving and develop formulations such as solutions, suspensions, capsules, tablets, and amorphous intermediates. You will also gain experience with analytical techniques and contribute to training and mentoring colleagues, all while ensuring compliance with SOPs and GMP regulations.

Shift: Monday-Friday 8 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: San Diego, CA
100% Onsite

The Role

• Conduct formulation studies and characterization of drug products for preclinical or human clinical dosage forms
• Independently design and execute simple experiments; seek supervisor assistance for complex designs
• Make decisions that may impact workload and project timelines
• Interpret data with limited guidance, identifying key factors and understanding findings
• Maintain clear and accurate records in laboratory notebooks and review colleagues’ work for accuracy and compliance
• Increase client interaction, including leading technical discussions related to projects
• Stay current with scientific literature to maintain professional expertise
• Develop understanding of cGMPs and Catalent SOPs and systems relevant to assigned work
• Comply with good housekeeping and safety practices
• May supervise a laboratory assistant
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s of Science degree is required plus a minimum of one (1) year of drug product development experience
• We will also accept a Master’s of Science without any formal industry experience
• Individual needs to be accessible to lab and office staff and able to use required office equipment. Specific vision requirements include reading of written documents and frequent use of a computer monitor

Preferred Skills & Background

• Experience with various formulation types such as solutions, suspensions, tablets, capsules, or amorphous intermediates; spray dried dispersion experience is a plus
• Experience with analytical techniques such as pH, osmolality, viscosity, particle size, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this position in CA is $74,000 – $85,000 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 regular participation 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.

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.

Volunteer Work Disclosure

Applicants for employment in Massachusetts may include in their employment history any verified work performed on a volunteer basis.

Massachusetts Lie Detector Test Notice

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Consistent with Massachusetts law, Catalent does not require or administer lie detector tests as a condition of employment or continued employment.