Formulation Scientist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); On-site; ZAR 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 invites an innovative Formulation Scientist to join the Product Development team in Nelspruit. You will design and optimize robust drug formulations, advancing candidates from early development to commercialization, with a focus on stability, bioavailability, and patient compliance.

You will work across analytical development, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs, applying DSC, TGA, particle size analysis, and HPLC to create scalable processes. A Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Strong knowledge of drug delivery systems, excipients, and dosage forms.
• Hands-on experience with formulation equipment and analytical techniques (DSC, TGA, particle size).
• Understanding of GMP, FDA, EMA requirements for drug product development.
• Excellent problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize pharmaceutical formulations for various dosage forms.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Perform stability studies per ICH guidelines to assess shelf-life.
• Utilize analytical techniques to evaluate performance and bioavailability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Skills

Formulation development

Analytical problem-solving

Team collaboration

Regulatory understanding

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Pharmaceutics or related

Tools

DSC

TGA

Particle size analysis

HPLC

Analytical techniques

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and experienced Formulation Scientist to join their dedicated Product Development department in Nelspruit. This role is central to designing and developing robust, stable, and effective drug formulations for new and existing pharmaceutical products. You will leverage your deep understanding of physical chemistry, pharmaceutics, and material science to create formulations that optimize drug delivery, bioavailability, and patient compliance. Working in a cutting-edge laboratory, you will be instrumental in advancing drug candidates from early-stage development through to commercialization, contributing significantly to the company's pipeline and patient health.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize novel pharmaceutical formulations (e.g., oral solids, liquids, injectables) for various therapeutic areas.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Perform stability studies according to ICH guidelines to assess formulation shelf-life.
• Utilize advanced analytical techniques to evaluate formulation performance, dissolution, and bioavailability.
• Troubleshoot formulation challenges and optimize processes for scalability and manufacturing efficiency.
• Collaborate with analytical development, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Strong knowledge of drug delivery systems, excipient selection, and manufacturing processes for various dosage forms.
• Hands-on experience with formulation development equipment and analytical techniques (e.g., DSC, TGA, particle size analysis).
• Understanding of regulatory requirements (e.g., GMP, FDA, EMA) related to drug product development.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive annual salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Access to state-of-the-art formulation development laboratories.
• Stimulating work environment with opportunities for scientific advancement and contribution to impactful medicines.