Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist - R&D

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses & stock options

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement plan

Generous leave & sick days

Conference & professional development

Hybrid work model

Opportunities for advancement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join its R&D team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. The role focuses on designing, developing, and optimizing novel drug formulations for enhanced efficacy and patient compliance.

The position offers a hybrid work model with on-site lab work and remote data analysis, reporting, and writing. Candidates should have a PhD or MSc with 5+ years of hands-on formulation experience and strong analytical skills.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development in biotech/pharma.
• Proficiency in formulation techniques and dosage form development.
• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, dissolution testing, particle size analysis, and DSC.
• Strong GMP understanding and regulatory knowledge for drug product development.
• Excellent scientific judgment, problem-solving, and attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; experience with statistical software is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize pharmaceutical formulations (oral solids, injectables, topicals).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize substances and excipients.
• Evaluate solubility, stability, dissolution, and bioavailability.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for formulations and drug products.
• Scale-up formulation processes from lab to pilot plant.
• Prepare detailed technical reports for regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with chemistry, manufacturing, and regulatory teams.
• Stay updated with formulation science advancements and regulatory guidelines.
• Troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing issues.
• Contribute to IP strategy via invention disclosures and patent applications.

Skills

Formulation science

Scale-up formulation

Analytical data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutics/Pharmaceutical Sciences

Master's in related discipline

Tools

HPLC

GC

Dissolution testing

DSC

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking a talented and experienced Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join their innovative R&D team. This position is based in our modern facilities in Stellenbosch, Western Cape , and operates on a hybrid model, allowing for a blend of on-site laboratory work and remote data analysis/report writing. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing novel drug delivery systems and formulations to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. This role requires a deep understanding of pharmaceutics, drug product development, and analytical techniques. The ideal candidate will possess a strong scientific background, excellent problem-solving skills, and a passion for bringing new medicines to market. You will collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, analytical scientists, and project managers to advance drug candidates from early-stage development through to clinical trials. The hybrid nature supports focused research while maintaining work-life balance. Your expertise in formulation science will be critical to the success of our pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize stable and effective pharmaceutical formulations (e.g., oral solid dosage forms, injectables, topical preparations).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Perform experiments to evaluate drug solubility, stability, dissolution, and bioavailability.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for characterizing formulations and drug products.
• Scale-up formulation processes from laboratory bench to pilot plant.
• Prepare detailed technical reports, documentation, and data summaries for regulatory submissions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (chemistry, manufacturing, regulatory affairs) to ensure successful product development.
• Stay current with advancements in formulation science, drug delivery technologies, and relevant regulatory guidelines.
• Troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing process issues.
• Contribute to the intellectual property strategy through invention disclosures and patent applications.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development, preferably within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
• Proficiency in a variety of formulation techniques and dosage form development.
• Experience with analytical techniques such as HPLC, GC, dissolution testing, particle size analysis, and DSC.
• Strong understanding of GMP principles and regulatory requirements for drug product development.
• Excellent scientific judgment, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present scientific data effectively.
• Experience with statistical analysis software is a plus.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment in Stellenbosch, Western Cape .
• Experience with lyophilization or sterile product development is advantageous.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of ZAR .
• Performance-based bonuses and potential for stock options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Generous annual leave and paid sick leave.
• Opportunities for scientific conferences and professional development.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility from our Stellenbosch, Western Cape location.
• Be part of a company driving innovation in pharmaceutical therapeutics.