Scientist, Pharmaceutics/Preformulation

Bristol Myers Squibb; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

11 paid holidays

Discretionary incentive cash

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb in San Diego, CA is seeking a Scientist in Pharmaceutics/Preformulation to apply drug delivery concepts and design formulations for small molecules in preclinical studies.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams to advance preformulation strategies, model physicochemical properties, and leverage AI-enabled approaches to accelerate discovery.

The role offers exposure to cutting-edge formulation strategies within a collaborative environment and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in preformulation and interpretation of lab data for discovery
• Knowledge of enabling formulations for poorly soluble compounds
• Experience with data analysis and literature mining is a plus

Responsibilities

• Conduct preformulation studies to define physicochemical properties relevant to drug delivery
• Provide input to screening of new chemical entities and enable lead optimization to candidate identification
• Design enabling formulations (amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations) for PK and toxicology studies
• Propose in vitro methodologies to evaluate formulation performance
• Apply AI-enabled approaches to support better decision making in discovery pharmaceutics
• Contribute to strategic direction and collaboration with discovery teams
• Develop modeling expertise to understand how properties influence biopharmaceutical performance

Skills

Preformulation expertise

Biopharmaceutics modeling

AI-enabled tools

Team collaboration

Strong communication

Education

PhD or MS or Bachelors in relevant field

Tools

GastroPlus

SQL

Job description

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

In Discovery Pharmaceutics, you will impact the lives of patients by working with multidisciplinary research teams to help discover novel, efficacious and safe therapeutics. BMS is looking for a motivated Scientist with a desire to contribute to the fast-paced discovery matrix environment by applying drug delivery concepts and designing formulation strategies to enable desired exposure for potential new small molecule drug candidates in preclinical studies. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of the physicochemical properties of new chemical entities as they relate to drug delivery, oral absorption, and other routes of administration.

The successful candidate will be expected to apply emerging digital and AI-enabled approaches, where scientifically appropriate, to strengthen candidate assessment, improve experimental design, accelerate data interpretation, and enhance decision‑making in discovery pharmaceutics.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct and interpret preformulation studies on small molecule drug candidates to define physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties relevant to drug delivery.
• Provide experimental/computational/predictive input to drug discovery scientists during screening of new chemical entities, and enable drug design from lead optimization to the point of candidate identification, characterization and selection
• Strategically design and guide the development of enabling formulations — including amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations, formulations incorporating permeation enhancers, and others — suitable for use in drug discovery pharmacology, PK, and initial toxicology studies.
• Ability to propose and design novel in vitro methodologies (e.g., modified flux/permeability assays) to evaluate the performance of various formulation types, including enabling formulations and permeation enhancers, is desirable.
• Apply innovative drug delivery technologies and data-driven or AI-enabled approaches, internally and externally, to support more effective delivery of poorly soluble or poorly permeable small molecules.
• Contribute to and help shape the strategic direction of Discovery Pharmaceutics, strengthening its role as a problem‑solving partner for discovery teams and enabling seamless transfer of candidates to development.
• Advance the capabilities of the larger candidate optimization organization by developing scientific expertise that strengthens understanding of how physicochemical properties influence overall biopharmaceutical performance, with an emphasis on modeling and simulation.

Job Requirements/Education

• Ph.D. with 0-2 years of experience, or MS with 3+ years of experience, or Bachelors with 5+ years in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical / Medicinal / Physical / Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline, or academic equivalent, is required.
• Understanding of preformulation aspects for new chemical entities, along with the ability to guide the generation and interpretation of preformulation laboratory data as it relates to the overall discovery process.
• Familiarity with enabling formulation strategies for poorly soluble or poorly permeable compounds — such as amorphous solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations (e.g., SEDDS/SMEDDS), and permeation enhancers.
• Knowledge on use of computers and databases for data collection, compilation, analysis, and information dissemination is a must.
• Experience with physiologically based biopharmaceutics modeling tools (e.g., GastroPlus) is desired but not essential.
• Experience using computational and AI-enabled tools for experimental planning, data analysis, and literature mining is a plus.
• Effective team player who engages interdisciplinary discovery teams and raises pharmaceutics and developability considerations, in a flexible, global environment.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are a must.

Compensation Overview

San Diego - CA - US: $111,980 - $135,692

The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full-time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

Benefits

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).

U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.

Non-exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.

Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time-off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs. Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People With Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

For roles based in Los Angeles County only: If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection.

Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at [e-mail] the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application-related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account.

R1607328 : Scientist, Pharmaceutics/Preformulation