Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary with annual bonus

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an innovative Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join its R&D team in Stellenbosch. You will design, develop, and optimize drug delivery formulations, translating concepts into viable products in a state-of-the-art lab.

The role emphasizes rigor, regulatory awareness, and collaboration with multifaceted teams. The position involves scale-up and technology transfer, requiring strong analytical skills and experience with APIs, excipients, and formulation strategies to

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Strong understanding of drug delivery systems, excipient selection and formulation strategies.
• Proficiency with laboratory techniques and analytical instrumentation relevant to formulation science.
• Experience with technology transfer and scale-up from lab to pilot plant.
• Strong problem-solving and meticulous experimental design and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable and bioavailable pharmaceutical formulations for various routes of administration.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies including physicochemical characterization of APIs.
• Optimize formulation and manufacturing processes for scale-up and commercial production.
• Perform stability studies per ICH guidelines and assess shelf-life results.
• Use analytical techniques such as HPLC, dissolution testing, and microscopy for characterization and quality.
• Collaborate with project teams across analytical development, process engineering, and regulatory affairs.

Skills

Formulation development

Analytical chemistry

Pre-formulation studies

Scale-up

Drug delivery systems

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tools

HPLC

Dissolution testing

Microscopy

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an innovative and experienced Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join their dedicated R&D team in Stellenbosch . This role is central to the design, development, and optimization of novel drug delivery systems and dosage forms. You will leverage your expertise in pharmaceutics, material science, and analytical chemistry to translate scientific concepts into viable pharmaceutical products. Working in a state-of-the-art laboratory, you will manage formulation projects from initial concept through to scale-up, ensuring products are safe, effective, and meet all regulatory requirements. The ideal candidate possesses a strong scientific foundation and a passion for creating new therapeutic solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable and bioavailable pharmaceutical formulations for various routes of administration (e.g., oral, injectable, topical).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, including physicochemical characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
• Optimize formulation composition and manufacturing processes for scale‑up and commercial production.
• Perform stability studies according to ICH guidelines and analyze results to determine product shelf-life.
• Utilize analytical techniques such as HPLC, dissolution testing, and microscopy for product characterization and quality assessment.
• Collaborate closely with project teams, including analytical development, process engineering, and regulatory affairs, to ensure seamless project progression.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Deep understanding of drug delivery systems , excipient selection, and formulation strategies.
• Proficiency in laboratory techniques and analytical instrumentation relevant to formulation science.
• Experience with technology transfer and scale‑up activities from lab to pilot plant.
• Strong problem‑solving abilities and a meticulous approach to experimental design and data analysis in Stellenbosch .

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including salary and annual bonus.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for professional growth and attending scientific conferences.
• Generous paid time off and retirement savings plan.
• Exposure to cutting‑edge formulation technologies and collaborative research projects.