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About Forma Life Sciences
Forma Life Sciences is a next-generation CDMO headquartered in Irvine, California, where molecules become medicine. Forma supports oral solid dosage programs from early clinical development through commercial manufacturing, with deep formulation expertise and cGMP manufacturing capabilities supporting pharmaceutical partners and the patients they serve.
Position Summary
Forma is seeking a Senior or Principal Scientist, Formulation Development to support and lead formulation development activities for oral solid dosage programs in a regulated CDMO environment. The final level and title will be determined based on the selected candidate's experience, technical depth, demonstrated independence, leadership capability, and business needs.
At the Senior Scientist level, this role is expected to design, execute, troubleshoot, and support formulation development activities while leading defined workstreams and mentoring junior staff. At the Principal Scientist level, this role is expected to operate as a senior technical subject matter expert, independently develop and implement formulation strategies, lead complex investigations, guide cross-functional teams, and represent formulation development as a technical lead on client and internal programs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
• Design, execute, evaluate, and/or lead formulation development experiments for oral solid dosage products, including tablets, capsules, and related dosage forms.
• Develop, implement, or contribute to formulation strategies based on scientific data, manufacturability, program objectives, technical risk, and client or regulatory expectations.
• Perform and support formulation work using approaches such as dilution blending, dry granulation, wet granulation, hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, and functional coating, as applicable to program needs.
• Evaluate formulation and process data, identify technical trends or risks, and recommend next-step experiments, troubleshooting activities, or development strategies.
• Lead or support investigations of aberrant or unexpected results, including root cause assessment, scientific rationale, documentation, and recommended corrective or follow-up actions.
• Prepare, review, and, as appropriate based on level, approve scientific reports, experimental protocols, development summaries, technical memos, batch records, investigation documentation, and other development records.
• Provide technical input and guidance to Formulation Development, Analytical Development, Manufacturing, Quality, Project Management, and client-facing teams on formulation methodologies, technical risks, development challenges, and process considerations.
• Serve as a technical lead for assigned formulation workstreams or projects; at the Principal Scientist level, routinely act as group leader or subject matter expert on complex formulation programs.
• Support development, scale-up, technology transfer, troubleshooting, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization activities for pharmaceutical drug products.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, capability-building, technical training, and scientific best practices within formulation operations.
• Mentor, train, and provide technical direction to junior scientists, associates, formulation staff, or cross-functional team members as assigned.
• Comply with Forma SOPs, cGMP practices, data integrity expectations, safety requirements, and documentation standards in all laboratory, pilot, manufacturing, and technical activities.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of client, product, program, employee, and company information.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Requirements
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline required. Relevant industry experience should generally include PhD with 2+ years for Senior Scientist level or 4+ years for Principal Scientist level; M.S. with 5+ years for Senior Scientist level or 8+ years for Principal Scientist level; or B.S. with 7+ years for Senior Scientist level or 10+ years for Principal Scientist level.
• Hands-on formulation development experience with tablets, capsules, and oral solid dosage forms, including commonly used formulation and process approaches such as blending, dry granulation, wet granulation, hot-melt extrusion, spray drying, and coating.
• Working knowledge of formulation development, CMC drug development, cGMP practices, SOP-driven documentation, data integrity, laboratory safety, and regulated development/manufacturing expectations.
• Experience preparing clear, accurate, and scientifically sound protocols, reports, technical summaries, investigation documentation, or related development records.
• Ability to analyze experimental results, troubleshoot technical issues, and communicate recommendations to scientific, cross-functional, client-facing, and leadership stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, client-focused CDMO environment with strong ownership, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical team members; Principal Scientist candidates should demonstrate scientific leadership, project or group leadership, technical mentorship, and ability to guide complex formulation development work.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, manufacturing, CDMO, or client-service environments.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, scale-up, process troubleshooting, manufacturing readiness, or commercialization activities for oral solid dosage products.
• Understanding of excipient functionality, drug substance properties, formulation chemistry, functional coatings, and immediate-release, delayed-release, or sustained-release dosage forms.
• Experience mentoring junior staff or providing technical training to laboratory, development, or cross-functional personnel.
• Strong math, chemistry, troubleshooting, interpretation, and scientific writing skills.
Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
The expected base salary range for this exempt position is $115,000 to $170,000 per year. Final compensation and title will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience, education, skills, technical expertise, demonstrated level of independence, leadership capability, internal equity, and business needs.
Forma offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, financial security, and overall quality of life. Benefits may include ACA-compliant medical, vision, and dental coverage; Medical FSA and Dependent Care FSA options, generous paid time off, paid sick leave, company holidays, 401(k) retirement plan, voluntary life insurance, disability insurance, critical illness, hospital, and accident insurance, legal and identity protection services, company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance, an aggressive bonus structure, monthly company events, and other company-sponsored programs, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This role is performed primarily in an office and laboratory/manufacturing-adjacent environment at Forma's Irvine facility. The employee may work in well-lit, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office and laboratory areas with adequate ventilation and may be required to use a computer, review technical documentation, communicate with others, and attend meetings for extended periods.
The role may require occasional standing, walking, sitting, reaching, bending, use of laboratory or pilot-scale equipment, and other light physical activities of a productive or technical nature. Employees must follow applicable safety procedures, PPE requirements, cGMP documentation practices, and facility access requirements. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
Equal Employment Opportunity & Reasonable Accommodation
Forma Life Sciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, breastfeeding, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, protected hairstyle or hair texture, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Forma provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, as required by law. Applicants or employees who need accommodation to participate in the hiring process or perform essential job functions should contact Human Resources.