Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist — Hybrid Role

Placements24; Pietermaritzburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Conferences

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist for a leading pharmaceutical innovator in Pietermaritzburg. You will design, develop, and optimize solid dosage forms, lead pre‑formulation studies, and select excipients to enhance therapeutic efficacy.

The role sits in a collaborative R&D team with GMP-compliant labs, offers a hybrid work model, opportunities for professional growth, and involvement in regulatory filings and product development.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience in pharmaceutical formulation development, with a strong focus on solid oral dosage forms.
• Proven expertise in pre-formulation, excipient selection, formulation design, and process development.
• Proficiency in utilizing various analytical techniques for characterization (e.g., DSC, TGA, XRPD, dissolution testing).
• Solid understanding of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and regulatory requirements for drug product development.
• Excellent experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to challenges.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present scientific data clearly.
• Experience working in Pietermaritzburg or willingness to relocate is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation development of new drug products, from pre-formulation studies through to process optimization for clinical trial materials and commercial manufacturing.
• Design and execute experiments to evaluate drug solubility, stability, compatibility, and pharmacokinetic profiles.
• Develop and characterize various dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, and potentially other advanced delivery systems.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to understand drug substance properties and select appropriate excipients.
• Perform hands‑on laboratory work, including wet chemistry, solid‑state characterization, and dissolution testing.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for formulation analysis in collaboration with analytical development teams.
• Troubleshoot formulation‑related issues encountered during development and scale‑up.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports, technical summaries, and sections for regulatory filings.
• Collaborate effectively with project teams, including R&D, analytical development, manufacturing, and regulatory affairs.
• Stay current with scientific literature, emerging technologies, and regulatory guidelines in pharmaceutical formulation.

Skills

Formulation development

Pre-formulation

Analytical techniques

Dissolution testing

Data analysis

Education

Master's or PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering

Tools

DSC

TGA

XRPD

Dissolution testing equipment

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulation Scientist for a leading pharmaceutical innovator in Pietermaritzburg. You will design, develop, and optimize solid dosage forms, lead pre‑formulation studies, and select excipients to enhance therapeutic efficacy.

The role sits in a collaborative R&D team with GMP-compliant labs, offers a hybrid work model, opportunities for professional growth, and involvement in regulatory filings and product development.