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Formulation Development Cmc Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Experience with parenteral drug product formulation development, characterization, testing, quality risk assessment and CMC regulatory guidance and filings. * Strong leadership and team management ...

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Sr. Scientist 1

Novato, CA

$107K - $146K/yr

Leads drug product formulation development and optimization. Leads the crossfunctional CMC Drug Product Partner Team and represents the team in CMC forums. Coordinates with other partner teams to ...

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Formulation Development Cmc information

What is the role of CMC in drug development?

In formulation development, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of a drug by establishing manufacturing processes, quality standards, and regulatory documentation. Formulation scientists and CMC teams collaborate to develop stable, scalable drug products that meet regulatory requirements throughout development and commercialization.

What is the salary of formulation R&D?

The salary for a Formulation Development CMC professional typically ranges from $70,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level roles may start lower, while senior positions with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries. Compensation often includes benefits such as health insurance and bonuses.

What is the highest paying job in pharmaceuticals?

In pharmaceuticals, senior roles such as Vice President of Research and Development or Chief Scientific Officer typically have the highest salaries, often exceeding several hundred thousand dollars annually. These positions require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership skills, and they oversee drug development, regulatory strategies, and company innovation.

What is the difference between Formulation Development Cmc vs Formulation Scientist?

AspectFormulation Development CmcFormulation Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmacy, Chemistry, or related fields; industry certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fields
Work EnvironmentPharmaceutical or biotech R&D labs, manufacturing settingsResearch labs, development facilities, pharmaceutical companies
Industry UsageRegulatory submissions, product development, manufacturing supportFormulation research, experimental design, product optimization

Formulation Development Cmc focuses on developing formulations suitable for regulatory approval and manufacturing, often involving documentation and compliance. Formulation Scientists primarily conduct research and experiments to create and optimize formulations. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work in related environments, Cmc roles emphasize regulatory and manufacturing aspects, whereas Scientists focus on experimental research and innovation.

Is formulation part of CMC?

In formulation development roles within CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), formulation is a core component, involving the design and optimization of drug formulations to ensure stability, efficacy, and manufacturability. These professionals work with analytical tools, quality standards, and regulatory requirements to develop suitable formulations for clinical and commercial products.

What is Formulation Development CMC?

Formulation Development CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) refers to the process of designing and optimizing the composition of a drug product, ensuring it is safe, effective, and stable for patient use. This role involves selecting appropriate excipients, developing the manufacturing process, and generating the data required to support regulatory submissions. CMC professionals collaborate with research, quality, and regulatory teams to ensure that the drug product meets all necessary standards throughout its lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Formulation Development CMC specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Formulation Development CMC specialist, you need expertise in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, and regulatory guidelines, often supported by an advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with analytical techniques, formulation equipment, and regulatory submission systems like eCTD is crucial. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are essential soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the successful development, optimization, and regulatory approval of safe and effective pharmaceutical products.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in Formulation Development CMC, and how are they addressed?

Professionals in Formulation Development CMC often encounter challenges such as ensuring formulation stability, meeting regulatory requirements, and scaling up from laboratory to manufacturing. Addressing these challenges requires close collaboration with analytical, regulatory, and manufacturing teams, as well as staying current with evolving guidelines. Effective project management, rigorous experimental design, and proactive risk assessment are key strategies to successfully navigate these complexities and ensure timely progress of drug development projects.
What cities in California are hiring for Formulation Development Cmc jobs? Cities in California with the most Formulation Development Cmc job openings:
Infographic showing various Formulation Development Cmc job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 47% Internship, 1% As Needed, 42% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution.
Director, Formulations

Director, Formulations

Cytokinetics, Inc.

South San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Cytokineticsis a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.

As Director of Formulations at Cytokinetics, reporting to the Senior Director of Formulation Development and Pharmaceutical Engineering, you will provide strong technical and strategic leadership in the development of multiple early- and late-stage compounds.

You will play a key role in advancing our drug development programs by leading efforts in formulation development, process optimization and scale-up, control strategy development, and development and GMP manufacturing activities at external CDMO partners. You will serve on cross-functional CMC teams and develop comprehensive CMC development plans that support clinical development. This position is integral to the advancement of Cytokinetics' growing portfolio of drug candidates.

In addition to technical leadership responsibilities, this role may have people leadership responsibilities, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, talent development, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment.

Primary Responsibilities:
  • Lead formulation and process development activities for early- and late-stage clinical candidates, ensuring alignment with overall development timelines and goals.

  • Lead strategic planning for formulation development, identifying risks, proposing mitigation strategies, and enabling efficient progression to clinical and commercial stages.

  • Accountable for formulation and process development activities and technical oversight of clinical drug product manufacturing at contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), including management and approval of documentation, planning, scheduling, execution, and person-in-plant support (when required).

  • Provide coaching, mentorship, and development support to team members as applicable, fostering scientific excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

  • Support employee performance management activities, including goal setting, development planning, and ongoing feedback, when serving in a people leadership capacity.

  • Develop and strengthen team capabilities by establishing methodologies, evaluation criteria, and best practices for experimental design, data interpretation, and decision-making.

  • Apply sound formulation development principles to solve complex product development challenges and enable robust, scalable processes.

  • Identify, evaluate, and implement innovative formulation technologies to enhance product performance and reduce development cycle time.

  • Provide subject matter expertise to support global CMC regulatory strategies and cross-functional development plans.

  • Author and review pharmaceutical development and manufacturing sections for clinical and commercial regulatory submissions.

  • Design, execute, and analyze laboratory studies to advance scientific understanding of formulation development and address technical challenges.

  • Prepare technical protocols, reports, and documentation, ensuring high-quality data analysis, interpretation, and communication of results.

  • Contribute to external scientific visibility through publications, presentations, and participation in conferences.

  • Partner with Legal/IP teams to support patent strategy and ensure appropriate protection of drug product innovations.

  • Build and maintain strong cross-functional collaborations with Chemical Development, Analytical Development, Quality, Regulatory, DMPK, and other stakeholders to support integrated program success.


Qualifications:
  • Advanced degree (Ph.D., M.S., or equivalent) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.

  • Minimum of 10 years of industry experience in formulation and process development for oral dosage forms, including demonstrated experience in cGMP environments.

  • Prior people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, performance management, and employee development, is preferred.

  • Proven expertise in developing and advancing enabling formulations to improve solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds.

  • Deep understanding of pharmaceutical sciences, with demonstrated hands-on experience in formulation development of new chemical entities and optimization of large-scale drug product manufacturing.

  • Strong track record of cross-functional collaboration with CMC/Technical Operations, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and related disciplines.

  • Working knowledge of key analytical techniques, including HPLC, UV spectroscopy, dissolution testing, and solid-state characterization.

  • Proficiency in authoring technical reports and CMC sections of regulatory submissions.

  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, with strong executive presence and the ability to represent the function in high-level forums.

  • Strong leadership, coaching, and interpersonal skills with the ability to develop talent and foster collaborative working relationships.

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Pay Range:

In the U.S., the hiring pay range for fully qualified candidates is $232,110 - $270,795 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

Please review ourGeneral Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policyPRIOR to applying.

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do - all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.

Fraud Warning: How to Identify Impersonated Cytokinetics Job Postings and Offers

Recently, there have been fraudulent employment offers being sent to candidates on behalf of Cytokinetics. Please be advised that all legitimate offers from Cytokinetics will come directly from our official email domain (Cytokinetics.com) and will only be made after completing a formal interview process.

Here are some ways to check for authenticity:

  • We do not conduct job interviews through non-standard text messaging applications

  • We will never request personal information such as banking details until after an official offer has been accepted and verified

  • We will never request that you purchase equipment or other items when interviewing or hiring

  • If you are unsure about the authenticity of an offer, or if you receive any suspicious communication, please contact us directly attalentacquisition@cytokinetics.com

Please visit our website at:www.cytokinetics.com

Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer