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Drug Development Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Development Scientist I Position Summary: * Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm EST * This ... Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and ...

The Development Scientist II is responsible for supporting these activities in the areas of ... Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and ...

Position Summary MBX is seeking a Formulation Development Scientist to join the Drug Product team and help advance our peptide therapeutic pipeline. Reporting to the Associate Director, Formulation ...

Position Summary MBX is seeking a Formulation Development Scientist to join the Drug Product team and help advance our peptide therapeutic pipeline. Reporting to the Associate Director, Formulation ...

Senior Director, Drug Development Location: Home-based in USA/Europe Job Overview: Manages a ... Provide medical, clinical, scientific, regulatory, and product development leadership and ...

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Drug Development Scientist information

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How much do drug development scientist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for drug development scientist in the United States is $38.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.37 and $46.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a drug development scientist do?

A drug development scientist conducts research to discover and develop new medications, overseeing the process from laboratory experiments to clinical trials. They analyze data, optimize formulations, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards, often using specialized tools and techniques in a laboratory setting.

How to become a drug development scientist?

To become a drug development scientist, typically a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, or a related field is required, often followed by a master's or Ph.D. for advanced roles. Relevant skills include laboratory techniques, data analysis, and knowledge of regulatory requirements; experience through internships or research projects is also valuable.

How much does a drug discovery scientist make?

A drug discovery scientist's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced scientists with advanced skills or specialized knowledge can earn higher salaries, especially in biotech or pharmaceutical companies.

What degree do I need for drug development?

A drug development scientist typically needs at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as chemistry, biology, pharmacology, or pharmaceutical sciences. Many roles require a master's degree or Ph.D. for advanced research positions, along with strong laboratory skills and knowledge of regulatory requirements.

What is the difference between Drug Development Scientist vs Pharmacologist?

AspectDrug Development ScientistPharmacologist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields; PhD often preferredBachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Pharmacology, Toxicology, or related disciplines
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research facilities, pharmaceutical companiesResearch labs, academic institutions, healthcare settings
Industry UsageDevelops and tests new drugs, oversees clinical trialsStudies drug effects, mechanisms, and interactions in biological systems

While both roles involve drug-related research, Drug Development Scientists focus on creating and testing new medications, whereas Pharmacologists study how drugs affect biological systems. Their work environments and credentials overlap, but their primary objectives differ: development versus understanding drug actions.

Infographic showing various Drug Development Scientist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,420 per year, or $38.7 per hour.
Development Scientist II

Full-time

Life, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Catalent rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 52 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

53rd of 73 rated pharmaceutical


Job description

Development Scientist II

The Development Scientist II serves as a primary point of contact with the client regarding pharmaceutical development and clinical manufacturing project related activities. The Development Scientist II is responsible for supporting these activities in the areas of supervision, process development, clinical trial batch manufacturing, packing and documentation.

Position Summary

This position is 100% on-site at the Greenville site.

Catalent's Greenville, N.C. facility specializes in end-to-end turn-key solutions for oral solid dosage forms, including integrated formulation development, analytical services, commercial manufacturing, and packaging. This state-of-the-art facility has had over $100M of investments in recent years and features fit-for-scale capacity with potent handling capabilities, ideal for orphan or targeted drug development.

The Development Scientist II is responsible for all formulation and process development of several ongoing projects including project management and customer contact.

The Role

  • Responsible for GMP compliance in formulation and process development.

  • Responsible for assisting with planning and operating within a budget for the pharmaceutical area.

  • Work directly with customers and potential customers to agree on development approaches and scope of work.

  • Independently assist manufacturing group with batch manufacture and packaging/labeling, including set-up and cleaning.

  • Lead efforts in solving formulation and process problems.

  • Directly support with writing batch records, SOPs, IQ/OQ/PQ documents, development/technical reports, and CMC sections for regulatory submissions as directed.

  • Ensure that all work is accurate, precise, properly documented and, when appropriate, performed within GMP guidelines.

  • All other duties as assigned.

The Candidate

  • Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology or related field with eight or more years of experience in pharmaceutical development with focus on solids formulation required or;

  • Master's degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics, Industry Pharmacy, or related field with six or more years of experience in pharmaceutical development required or;

  • Ph.D. in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutics, Industry Pharmacy or related field with four or more years of experience in pharmaceutical development required or;

  • Some exposure to hazardous chemicals and other active chemical ingredients.

  • Position requires the capacity to handle and manipulate objects using hands and arms.

  • Requires ability to occasionally lift items in excess of 50 pounds.

  • This position requires that a respirator be worn for your safety, and as such, employment is contingent upon being able to complete a medical evaluation with satisfactory results. The medical evaluation is conducted via an external vendor assigned by Catalent.

Why You Should Work At Catalent

  • Spearhead exciting and innovative projects

  • Fast-paced, dynamic environment

  • High visibility to members at all levels of the organization

  • 152 hours of PTO + 8 paid holidays

Catalent offers rewarding opportunities to further your career! Join the global drug development and delivery leader and help us bring over 7,000 life-saving and life-enhancing products to patients around the world. Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.

personal initiative. dynamic pace. meaningful work.

Visit Catalent Careers to explore career opportunities.

Catalent is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veterans.

If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, you may submit your request by sending an email, and confirming your request for an accommodation and include the job number, title and location to DisabilityAccommodations@catalent.com. This option is reserved for individuals who require accommodation due to a disability. Information received will be processed by a U.S. Catalent employee and then routed to a local recruiter who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the application or hiring process.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives: Catalent Pharma Solutions (Catalent) is not accepting unsolicited resumes from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. Resumes submitted to any Catalent employee by a third party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Catalent. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.

Important Security Notice to U.S. Job Seekers:

Catalent NEVER asks candidates to provide any type of payment, bank details, photocopies of identification, social security number or other highly sensitive personal information during the offer process, and we NEVER do so via email or social media. If you receive any such request, DO NOT respond- it is a fraudulent request. Please forward such requests to spam@catalent.com for us to investigate with local authorities.

California Job Seekers can find our California Job Applicant Notice HERE.


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About Catalent

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Catalent is an exciting and growing international company where employees work directly with pharma, biopharma and consumer health companies of all sizes to advance new medicines from early development to clinical trials and to the market. Catalent produces more than 70 billion doses per year, and each one will be used by someone who is counting on us. Join us in making a difference.Catalent is committed to the health and safety of its employees, visitors and the customers and patients we serve.

Industry

Pharmaceutical product wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Somerset, NJ, US

Year founded

2007

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