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Formulation Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Actalent

Formulation Scientist

Santa Monica, CA · Hybrid

Design and execute formulation development experiments based on defined project deliverables, including planning experimental work, processing materials, and performing performance analyses.

LGM Pharma, LLC

FORMULATION SCIENTIST

Rosenberg, TX · On-site

$87.50K - $105K/yr

Lead formulation development, optimization, and scale-up activities for semi-solid and liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms, including: (Rectal and vaginal suppositories/pessaries, Creams, gels ...

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How much do formulation development jobs pay per hour?

As of May 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for formulation development in the United States is $22.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $22.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Formulation Development, and why are they important?

To excel in Formulation Development, a solid background in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or related fields, often with a relevant degree, is essential. Experience with analytical instruments, formulation software, and knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or regulatory guidelines are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective cross-functional communication set top performers apart. These skills ensure the creation of safe, effective, and compliant products that meet both scientific and regulatory standards.

What are some common challenges faced in a Formulation Development role, and how are they typically addressed?

Professionals in Formulation Development often encounter challenges such as ensuring product stability, achieving desired drug release profiles, and scaling up formulations from the laboratory to manufacturing. These challenges are typically addressed by conducting thorough pre-formulation studies, collaborating closely with analytical and process engineers, and performing iterative testing to optimize formulations. Teamwork and effective communication with quality assurance and regulatory teams are also crucial to ensure products meet both efficacy and compliance standards.

What is formulation development?

Formulation development is the process of designing and optimizing the composition of a pharmaceutical product, such as a tablet, capsule, or injectable, to ensure its safety, efficacy, and stability. This involves selecting appropriate active ingredients, excipients, and delivery methods to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Professionals in formulation development work to address challenges like solubility, bioavailability, and manufacturability, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Their work is essential for turning a drug candidate into a viable, market-ready product.

What is the difference between Formulation Development vs Formulation Scientist?

AspectFormulation DevelopmentFormulation Scientist
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmacy, Chemistry, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmacy, Chemistry, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, R&D departmentsResearch labs, pharmaceutical companies, R&D departments
Industry UsageDesigning and optimizing drug formulations for productionDeveloping and testing drug formulations, conducting experiments

Formulation Development focuses on designing and optimizing drug formulations for manufacturing, while Formulation Scientists conduct experiments and testing to develop these formulations. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, but their specific responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

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Formulation Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Formulation Development job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 82% Full Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 98% In-person, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,488 per year, or $22.8 per hour.
Senior Associate Scientist - Biologics Formulation & Drug Product Development

Senior Associate Scientist - Biologics Formulation & Drug Product Development

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Elanco rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 25 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

39th of 70 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) - it all starts with animals!
As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose - all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.
At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you'll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.
Making animals' lives better makes life better - join our team today!
About the Role
As a Senior Scientist in Biologics Formulation & Drug Product Development team, you will be a key, hands-on contributor in developing stable and robust formulations and drug product processes for new biological therapeutics. In this laboratory-based role, you will focus on formulation and drug product process development for biopharmaceutical modalities such as monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, peptides, and other complex biologics.
You will drive the execution of formulation development studies across development stages for sterile injectable and freeze-dried (lyophilized) drug products. You will partner closely with scientists in downstream process development, analytical sciences, and other CMC functions to deliver high-quality formulation and drug product process development packages that enable successful clinical and commercial supply.
Your Responsibilities
  • Plan and perform early developability and pre-formulation assessments (e.g., stress testing, formulation screening, and phase-appropriate stability studies) using biophysical and analytical tools (such as DSC, DLS / Zetasizer, particulate analysis, SEC and related techniques) to enable lead candidate and formulation selection.
  • Design, plan, and execute formulation and process development studies for biological drug products (e.g., sterile injectables, lyophilized products, multi-dose vials, and other presentations).
  • Anticipate and resolve key technical and process-related challenges to meet project timelines and deliverables.
  • Analyze complex data sets, draw clear conclusions, and provide timely feedback and recommendations to enable data-driven formulation decisions.
  • Document experimental work in electronic lab notebooks and author concise technical reports and presentations to support internal decision-making and, as appropriate, regulatory submissions.
  • Collaborate closely with downstream/process development, analytical sciences, device/packaging, manufacturing, and quality teams to translate laboratory findings into robust, scalable drug product processes.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of formulation development workflows, analytical capabilities, and laboratory practices, including evaluation and implementation of new technologies where appropriate.

What You Need to Succeed (Minimum Qualifications)
  • Education:
    • B.S. or M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific/engineering discipline.

  • Experience:
    • B.S. with 5-7+ years of relevant industry experience, or M.S. with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, in formulation development of biologics or other biopharmaceutical products.

  • Technical Skills:
    • Demonstrated, hands-on experience in formulation development of monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, peptides, or other biopharmaceutical drug products.
    • Familiarity with biophysical and analytical characterization techniques commonly used in biologics formulation (e.g., DSC, DLS/Zetasizer, SEC or related chromatographic methods).
    • Strong skills in quantitative data analysis, scientific problem-solving, and clear written and verbal scientific communication.
    • Comfort working in a highly regulated, quality-focused laboratory environment and following safety, compliance, and data-integrity practices.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
  • Direct experience with multiple dosage forms and presentations (e.g., sterile injectables, lyophilized products, multi-dose vials, pre-filled syringes, or other device-containing presentations).
  • Direct experience developing freeze-dried formulations and lyophilization cycles.
  • Proven technical agility and a track record of proactively identifying and solving complex formulation or process challenges.
  • Experience using statistical tools (e.g., JMP or similar) for design of experiments (DoE) and data analysis.
  • Prior experience collaborating on cross-functional CMC teams and/or supporting technology transfer to clinical or commercial manufacturing sites.
  • Demonstrated interest in innovation and continuous improvement (e.g., implementation of new biophysical methods, automation, or digital data workflows).

Additional Information
  • Location: Global Elanco Headquarters - Indianapolis, IN (Hybrid Work Environment)
  • Travel: Minimal (e.g., occasional travel to development or manufacturing sites)

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status
Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job-related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.

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