Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Scientist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings plan

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is hiring a Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Scientist to join our client’s Product Development team in a hybrid role serving Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. You will design, develop, and optimize dosage forms, lead stability studies, and support manufacturing scale-up in a collaborative environment.

The role requires 5+ years in pharmaceutical formulation development, expertise across tablets, capsules, injectables, and modified-release systems, plus GMP and regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or MSc in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable pharmaceutical formulations for various routes of administration.
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Perform formulation optimization using DoE to achieve product performance.
• Design and execute stability studies per ICH guidelines.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for formulation performance and quality attributes.
• Support technology transfer for manufacturing scale-up.
• Collaborate with analytical development, regulatory affairs, and project management.

Skills

DoE design of experiments

Statistical analysis

Problem solving

Written/verbal communication

Hybrid teamwork

GMP knowledge

Education

PhD or MSc in Pharmaceutics or related field

Tools

Dissolution testers

Particle size analyzers

DSC/TGA

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic pharmaceutical innovator, is seeking an experienced Senior Pharmaceutical Formulations Scientist to join their Product Development team. This hybrid role, primarily serving the Nelspruit, Mpumalanga region, will focus on the design, development, and optimization of novel drug delivery systems and dosage forms. You will play a key role in taking early-stage drug candidates through formulation development, stability studies, and supporting manufacturing scale-up. This position requires a deep understanding of pharmaceutics, drug delivery technologies, and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical product development. The hybrid model offers a blend of collaborative lab work and remote strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop stable, effective, and manufacturable pharmaceutical formulations for various routes of administration (e.g., oral, injectable, topical).
• Conduct pre-formulation studies to characterize drug substances and excipients.
• Perform formulation optimization using statistical design of experiments (DoE) to achieve desired product performance.
• Design and execute stability studies according to ICH guidelines.
• Develop and validate analytical methods for assessing formulation performance and quality attributes.
• Support technology transfer activities for manufacturing scale-up at internal or external sites.
• Collaborate closely with analytical development, regulatory affairs, and project management teams.
• Prepare comprehensive formulation development reports and contribute to regulatory submission documents.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in pharmaceutical formulation and drug delivery.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to a culture of innovation and scientific rigor.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Proven experience with various dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, injectables, modified-release systems).
• Strong knowledge of material science, physical chemistry, and drug delivery principles.
• Proficiency in using formulation development equipment and analytical instruments (e.g., dissolution testers, particle sizers, DSC, TGA).
• Experience with DoE and statistical analysis software.
• Understanding of GMP and regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical product development.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work effectively in a hybrid team environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, performance-based incentives, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, retirement savings plan, and opportunities for continued professional growth and development. You will work in a state-of-the-art research environment in the Nelspruit, Mpumalanga area, enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement.