Formulation Scientist - Pharmaceutical Development

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and comprehensive_b

On-site parking

Professional development opportunities

Access to advanced formulation tech

Team collaboration

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Formulation Scientist in Mossel Bay, Western Cape. You will design and optimize drug formulations, perform pre-formulation studies, and scale up processes for tablet, capsule, injectable and topical dosage forms.

The role requires 4+ years in pharmaceutical formulation development and strong GMP knowledge. You will work with a cross-functional team in a state-of-the-art facility, contributing to robust, scalable products and rigorous documentation.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• Minimum 4 years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Experience with multiple dosage forms and drug delivery systems.
• Strong understanding of physical chemistry and material science for formulations.
• Experience with pre-formulation studies and analytical techniques.
• Familiar with GMP principles in pharmaceutical development.
• Excellent problem-solving, documentation, and report-writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new pharmaceutical formulations for tablets, capsules, injectables, and topical forms.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies and physicochemical characterization of APIs and excipients.
• Investigate formulation parameters to improve release, stability, and bioavailability.
• Perform compatibility studies between APIs and excipients.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for formulation characterization and quality assessment.
• Operate and maintain lab equipment (mixers, tablet presses, dissolution testers).
• Scale-up formulations to pilot and manufacturing scales with reproducibility.
• Document development activities in notebooks and technical reports.
• Collaborate with analytical, process development, and regulatory teams.
• Stay updated on formulation science advances and regulatory guidelines.

Skills

Formulation development

GMP understanding

Problem-solving

Documentation

Education

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, or related field

Tools

HPLC

DSC

TGA

Dissolution testers

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and growing pharmaceutical company, is seeking a skilled Formulation Scientist to contribute to their innovative drug development efforts in **Mossel Bay, Western Cape**. This role is central to designing and optimizing novel drug delivery systems and dosage forms that enhance therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and product stability. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in pharmaceutical sciences, with hands‑on experience in formulation development, pre‑formulation studies, and solid dosage form manufacturing techniques. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a state‑of‑the‑art facility and collaborate with a talented team of scientists and researchers. You will play a key role in advancing drug candidates from discovery through to clinical development, ensuring robust and scalable formulations. We are looking for a creative problem‑solver with excellent technical skills and a commitment to scientific rigor. This position is essential for translating scientific discoveries into tangible medicinal products that can benefit patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop new pharmaceutical formulations for various dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, injectables, topical).


• Conduct pre-formulation studies, including physicochemical characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients.


• Investigate and optimize formulation parameters to achieve desired drug release profiles, stability, and bioavailability.


• Perform compatibility studies between APIs and excipients.


• Develop and validate analytical methods for characterizing formulations and assessing drug product quality.


• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment used in formulation development and characterization (e.g., mixers, tablet presses, dissolution testers).


• Scale‑up laboratory formulations to pilot and manufacturing scales, ensuring process reproducibility.


• Document all formulation development activities thoroughly in laboratory notebooks and technical reports.


• Collaborate with analytical, process development, and regulatory affairs teams to support product development.


• Stay current with advancements in formulation science, drug delivery technologies, and relevant regulatory guidelines.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, or a related field.


• Minimum of 4 years of hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.


• Proven experience with various dosage forms and drug delivery systems.


• Strong understanding of physical chemistry, material science, and their application in formulation.


• Proficiency in performing pre-formulation studies and characterization techniques.


• Experience with laboratory-scale formulation equipment and analytical instrumentation (e.g., HPLC, DSC, TGA).


• Knowledge of GMP principles as applied to pharmaceutical development.


• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively.


• Strong documentation and report‑writing skills.


• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.


• Opportunity to work on innovative drug development projects.


• Access to advanced formulation technologies and analytical equipment.


• Professional development opportunities and support for continuous learning.


• A dynamic and collaborative research environment.


• Generous paid time off and company holidays.


• Contribution to improving patient health through novel medicines.


• Retirement savings plan.


• Employee assistance program.


• On‑site parking.