Scientist 3, Analytical Development

Catalent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Movie Day

Monthly Birthday Celebrations

On-site fitness center

401(k) match

Paid time off accrual

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Catalent, Inc. in San Diego is seeking an Analytical Development Scientist responsible for developing stability-indicating methods, validating and transferring methods to Quality Control, and training teammates.

You will perform and train others on analytical techniques (HPLC/UPLC, UV/Vis, pH meters, GC, Karl Fischer, dissolution testing) and collaborate across departments to troubleshoot issues. This role requires BS with 4+ years, MS with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ year in analytical

Qualifications

• Must have BS in a physical/chemical/biological/pharmaceutical science.
• BS with 4+ years of experience in analytical development.
• MS with 3+ years of experience in analytical development.
• PhD with 1+ years of experience in analytical development.

Responsibilities

• Develop stability‑indicating methods for peptides and APIs and related products.
• Perform and train others on analytical techniques (HPLC/UPLC, UV/Vis, pH meters, GC, dissolution, Karl Fischer).
• Troubleshoot and optimize analytical methods for product characterization.
• Communicate results and lead technical discussions with clients.
• Assist in creating and revising SOPs and procedures; maintain labs records.

Skills

Analytical development

Leadership / supervision

Client communication

Independent work

Education

BS in physical/chemical/biological/pharmaceutical science

MS in analytical development

PhD in analytical development

Tools

HPLC/UPLC

UV/Vis spectroscopy

pH meters

GC

Karl Fischer moisture

Dissolution testing

DSC

TGA

PXRD

Job description

Position Summary

Work schedule: Monday-Friday, core hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 100% on-site (San Diego).

Catalent, Inc. is a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). Our San Diego facility focuses on early‑stage development of small molecule and peptide drug candidates from bench to clinic and offers services supporting oral and injectable dosage forms, including preformulation testing, formulation and analytical development, cGMP manufacturing, clinical packaging, labeling, and worldwide distribution.

The Role

• Develop stability‑indicating methods for peptide and small molecule APIs, intermediates, and drug products from scratch; develop cleaning verification methods.
• Perform and train others on analytical techniques including analytical balances, pH meters, HPLC/UPLC, UV/Vis spectroscopy, GC, USP dissolution testing, Karl Fischer moisture analysis, disintegration, Pion µDISS, DSC, TGA, PSD, PXRD, SEM, hardness, and friability testing.
• Troubleshoot and optimize analytical methods for characterisation of drug products and intermediates.
• Perform qualification studies to determine suitability of methods for transfer to Quality Control.
• Communicate results internally and externally through oral and written updates and formal reports; lead technical discussions with clients (supervisor not required to attend most meetings).
• Exercise technical discretion and critical thinking in design, execution, and interpretation of experiments independently with minimal supervisor assistance.
• Assist in creation and/or revision of department‑wide and site‑wide procedures and company SOPs.
• Maintain clear and accurate record keeping in laboratory notebooks and review colleagues’ work for scientific accuracy and compliance.
• Collaborate with other departments to troubleshoot technical issues.
• Stay abreast of current scientific technologies to maintain state‑of‑the‑art services; proactively communicate strategy to clients and work with supervisors or BD to generate new proposals or change orders. Support business aspects by performing billing communication for proposals under supervision.
• Opportunity to hire, train, and supervise 1–2 full‑time analytical group members and lab assistants.
• Other duties as assigned.

The Candidate

• 4‑year degree in a physical, chemical, biological, or pharmaceutical science (required).
• BS with 4+ years of experience in analytical development (required).
• MS with 3+ years of experience in analytical development (required).
• PhD with 1+ years of experience in analytical development (required).
• Physical requirements: Accessible to lab and office staff; able to use required office equipment; vision sufficient for reading documents and using computer monitor frequently.

Pay

The anticipated salary range for this role in California is $115,000 to $125,000 annually. Final salary will vary based on experience, industry background, skill set, education, and business needs.

Benefits

• Employee activities: Movie Day, Monthly Birthday Celebrations, Friday Bagel Breakfast, on‑site fitness center, sponsored sports teams, and other company events fostering positive employee relationships.
• Environmental initiatives: on‑site green practices and participation in community beach clean‑up activities.
• Defined career path with annual performance review and feedback; potential for career growth within an expanding team.
• Employee Resource Groups focused on Diversity and Inclusion.
• Competitive salary with bonus potential; generous 401(k) match and paid time off accrual; medical, dental, and vision benefits effective day one.
• 152 hours of PTO plus 10 paid holidays.
• Positive fast‑paced environment focused on continual improvement and innovation.
• Tuition reimbursement to support degree completion or new education.
• WellHub program promoting overall physical wellness.
• PerkSpot offering exclusive discounts from a wide array of merchants.

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, please send an email with your request, including the job number, title, and location to [e-mail].