Formulation Scientist - Pharmaceuticals

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Advanced training

State-of-the-art laboratories

Collaborative culture

Career advancement

Job summary

Placements24 in East London is seeking a highly skilled Formulation Scientist to lead development of pharmaceutical dosage forms from concept to scale-up. You will design tablets, capsules, injectables and topicals, perform pre-formulation studies, and optimise formulations for bioavailability and stability.

The role requires a Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences and at least 5 years' hands-on formulation experience, with strong collaboration across analytical, process, and regulatory

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences or related field.
• Minimum 5 years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• In-depth knowledge of drug delivery systems, excipients, and formulation principles.
• Experience with various analytical techniques for characterizing drug products.
• Proficiency in developing formulations for different routes of administration.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop pharmaceutical dosage forms (tablets, capsules, injectables, topicals).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies including solubility, stability, and compatibility assessments.
• Optimize formulations to improve bioavailability, stability, and patient compliance.
• Plan and execute bench-scale and pilot-scale formulation development studies.
• Collaborate with analytical chemists, process engineers, and regulatory specialists throughout product development.

Skills

Formulation development

Drug delivery

Analytical techniques

Project management

R&D collaboration

Education

MSc/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and experienced Formulation Scientist to join their product development team in East London . This role is central to the design, development, and optimization of stable, effective, and safe pharmaceutical dosage forms. You will work with various drug delivery systems, conduct pre-formulation studies, and oversee formulation development from concept to scale-up. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the creation of new medicines within a dynamic pharmaceutical company that values scientific ingenuity and patient-centric product design.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop various pharmaceutical dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, injectables, topical preparations).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, including solubility, stability, and compatibility assessments.
• Optimize formulations to enhance bioavailability, stability, and patient compliance.
• Plan and execute formulation development studies, including bench-scale development and pilot-scale manufacturing.
• Collaborate with analytical chemists, process engineers, and regulatory affairs specialists throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Troubleshoot formulation-related issues and implement effective solutions for drug product development challenges.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• In-depth knowledge of drug delivery systems, excipients, and formulation principles.
• Experience with various analytical techniques for characterizing drug products.
• Proficiency in developing formulations for different routes of administration.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast‑paced R&D environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunities for advanced training and professional growth within the pharmaceutical industry .
• Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and formulation development equipment.
• A collaborative and innovative work culture focused on scientific excellence.
• Contribute to the development of new and improved medicines that enhance patient lives.
• Potential for career advancement into senior R&D roles.