Senior Formulation Scientist: Lead Drug Delivery & Scale-Up

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid vacation and leave

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Rustenburg, South Africa, seeks a Senior Formulation Scientist to lead the development of innovative drug products, from concept through scale‑up and technology transfer.

You will design and execute pre‑formulation studies, optimize formulations, and ensure robust quality attributes while collaborating with analytical, regulatory, and manufacturing teams. The role emphasizes mentorship, GMP compliance, and cutting‑edge drug delivery approaches in a modern facility.

Qualifications

• Experience in solid dosage form formulation development.
• Strong background in pre‑formulation, excipient selection and design.
• 5+ years in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Familiarity with GMP and regulatory guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation development of new drug products, including solid dosage forms, semi‑solids, and liquids.
• Design and conduct pre‑formulation studies, solubility enhancement strategies, and stability testing.
• Develop, optimize, and scale‑up formulation processes using various equipment and technologies.
• Characterize drug product performance and ensure critical quality attributes are met.
• Collaborate with analytical development, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing teams to ensure project progression.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports and contribute to regulatory submissions.
• Troubleshoot formulation and process issues, implementing corrective actions.
• Stay current with industry trends and novel drug delivery technologies.
• Mentor junior scientists and provide technical guidance within the formulation team.
• Ensure GMP and other regulatory guidelines are followed.

Skills

Formulation development

Pre-formulation

Scale‑up & tech transfer

Analytical skills

Project management

GMP compliance

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Master’s or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Mixers

Granulators

Tablet presses

Coaters

Job description

Placements24 in Rustenburg, South Africa, seeks a Senior Formulation Scientist to lead the development of innovative drug products, from concept through scale‑up and technology transfer.

You will design and execute pre‑formulation studies, optimize formulations, and ensure robust quality attributes while collaborating with analytical, regulatory, and manufacturing teams. The role emphasizes mentorship, GMP compliance, and cutting‑edge drug delivery approaches in a modern facility.