Remote Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist

Placements24; Kempton Park; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Career growth

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly experienced Remote Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join a globally distributed R&D team. You will design, develop, and optimize oral solid dosage forms, lead pre-formulation studies, and drive projects from concept to preclinical stages in a fully remote setting.

You will work with analytical development, process development, and project management teams to ensure robust formulations and timely deliverables, while staying current with novel drug delivery

Qualifications

• PhD or MSc in pharmaceutical sciences or related field with emphasis on formulation.
• Hands-on experience in oral solid dosage form development is required.
• Strong understanding of pre-formulation, solubility, stability, and regulatory aspects.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop novel oral solid dosage formulations.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies and optimize processes.
• Characterize APIs/excipients and ensure robust, scalable formulations.
• Collaborate with remote teams and contribute to regulatory submissions.

Skills

Formulation design

Excipient selection

Process development

Solubility enhancement

Bioavailability

Stability principles

Analytical skills

Data analysis

Remote collaboration

Experiment design

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Master's in Pharmaceutics

Tools

Statistical software

MATLAB

JMP

Minitab

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and development company, is seeking a highly innovative and experienced Remote Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist to join their globally distributed R&D team. This is a unique, fully remote opportunity to contribute to the development of novel drug delivery systems and advanced pharmaceutical formulations from the comfort of your home office. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of formulation science, drug delivery technologies, and pre-formulation studies. You will be instrumental in designing, developing, and optimizing oral solid dosage forms and potentially other dosage forms, driving projects from concept to preclinical stages. This role offers the chance to work on exciting new chemical entities and contribute to the pipeline of a forward-thinking pharmaceutical organization, without the constraints of a physical office. We are looking for a self-motivated and highly skilled scientist with a strong track record in pharmaceutical formulation development. The position requires excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with the ability to collaborate effectively in a virtual team environment. The focus is on delivering robust and scalable formulations for our client's next-generation therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop novel pharmaceutical formulations, primarily for oral solid dosage forms (tablets, capsules), and potentially other advanced delivery systems.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies, including physicochemical characterization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients.
• Perform formulation optimization studies to enhance drug solubility, bioavailability, stability, and manufacturability.
• Develop and execute laboratory-scale formulation processes using techniques such as granulation, blending, compression, coating, and encapsulation.
• Characterize and test developed formulations using appropriate analytical methods (e.g., dissolution, disintegration, content uniformity, stability studies).
• Investigate and troubleshoot formulation and process-related issues.
• Collaborate closely with analytical development, process development, and project management teams in a remote setting.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports and contribute to regulatory submission documents (e.g., IND, NDA).
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and scientific literature in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables effectively within a remote work structure.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development, with a strong focus on oral solid dosage forms.
• Proven expertise in formulation design, excipient selection, and process development.
• Experience with various formulation techniques and associated equipment.
• Strong understanding of drug solubility enhancement, bioavailability, and stability principles.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and experimental design skills.
• Proficiency in relevant scientific software and data analysis tools.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, essential for remote collaboration.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a remote environment.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for drug product development is highly desirable.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, a retirement savings plan, and significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development in cutting-edge formulation science. Our client provides a flexible work environment and supports continuous learning through various channels. You will be part of an innovative and collaborative global team, contributing to the advancement of pharmaceutical therapies from anywhere. This role allows you to make a substantial impact on future medicines while enjoying the benefits of remote work.