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Formulation Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Actalent

Senior Formulator

Santa Clarita, CA

$40 - $62/hr

Strong understanding of formulation science, processing technologies, and GMP environments. * Experience with stability studies, scale-up activities, and technical transfers. * Ability to analyze ...

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How much do formulation science jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for formulation science in California is $22.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.03 and $22.55 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is formulation science?

Formulation science is the discipline focused on combining different chemical substances to create products with specific properties and functions, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and household products. Formulation scientists work to ensure that the combination of ingredients is stable, effective, and safe for the intended use. They also optimize the physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics of the final product. This field is critical in industries where product performance and quality are essential to consumer safety and satisfaction.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals in formulation science, and how can they be addressed?

Formulation Science professionals often encounter challenges such as ensuring product stability, optimizing ingredient compatibility, and meeting strict regulatory requirements. Successfully addressing these issues requires strong problem-solving skills, close collaboration with analytical chemists, and diligent documentation. Regular testing and iterative reformulation are common, so adaptability and attention to detail are essential. Working in cross-functional teams with R&D, quality assurance, and manufacturing also helps mitigate challenges and ensures successful product development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a formulation scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Formulation Scientist, you need a strong background in chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field, typically supported by at least a bachelor's or master's degree. Familiarity with analytical instruments, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and regulatory compliance (such as GMP or FDA guidelines) is essential. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you innovate and collaborate efficiently on product development. These qualifications ensure the safe, effective, and regulatory-compliant creation of new products in industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or food science.

What is the difference between Formulation Science vs Pharmaceutical Chemist?

AspectFormulation SciencePharmaceutical Chemist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related fields
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, R&D departments, manufacturing facilitiesLaboratories, research centers, pharmaceutical companies
Industry UsageDesigning and developing drug formulations, improving delivery methodsDeveloping and analyzing chemical compounds, quality control

Formulation Science focuses on creating and optimizing drug delivery systems and formulations, while Pharmaceutical Chemists primarily develop and analyze chemical compounds used in medications. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often work in overlapping environments within the pharmaceutical industry, but their core responsibilities differ in focus and application.

How much do formulation scientists make in the US?

Formulation scientists in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $80,000 to $110,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level roles may start lower, while experienced professionals or those with specialized skills can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with benefits and bonuses.

What do formulation science professionals do?

Formulation science professionals develop and optimize the composition of products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food items to ensure stability, efficacy, and safety. They use scientific principles, laboratory techniques, and tools like chromatography and spectroscopy to create effective formulations and often collaborate with research and development teams. Strong knowledge of chemistry, materials science, and regulatory standards is essential in this role.

What are popular job titles related to Formulation Science jobs in California?

For Formulation Science jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Formulation Science jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Formulation Science jobs in California are:

Formulation Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Formulation Science job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,866 per year, or $22.5 per hour.

Scientist I, Formulation Development

Avidity Biosciences Inc

San Diego, CA • On-site

$127K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Profoundly Improve People’s lives by Revolutionizing the Delivery of RNA Therapeutics

At Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. 

Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and X.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly motivated individual eager to work in a fast-paced and collaborative environment as a Scientist I within the Analytical and Formulation group of Avidity’s Technical Development and Operations (TD&O) department. This position will focus primarily on the clinical and commercial formulation development of AOC drug product and drug substance. Additional responsibilities may include but are not limited to supporting the developability assessments of early-stage mAb and AOC assets and performing in-use compatibility studies for intravenous and subcutaneous routes of administration. The successful candidate will have a strong scientific background and demonstrated experience in analytical and biophysical characterization. Experience in formulation development and stability testing of protein biologics, particularly for mAbs and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), is highly desirable. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills are essential as this position will require close collaboration with cross-functional team members as well as periodic communication with external research organizations and vendors. This position will report to the Principal Scientist within the Analytics and Formulation group, which is laboratory-based at the Avidity site in San Diego, CA. Non-laboratory functions such as data processing and documentation, however, may be completed remotely. 

What You Will Contribute

  • Design and work with TD&O team members to set up and conduct formulation stability studies of mAb and AOC liquid and lyophilized dosage forms
  • Conduct in-use compatibility studies of AOC drug products intended for intravenous and subcutaneous routes of administration
  • Perform developability assessments of numerous early-stage protein biologics using a variety of predictive analytical and biophysical methods
  • Carry out routine lab tasks including preparing buffers, managing the inventory of laboratory consumables and supplies when needed
  • Work with vendors for maintenance and troubleshooting of analytical instruments
  • Support mAb and AOC drug substance/product process development activities when needed
  • Be a hands-on presence in the laboratory and support biology and chemistry departments with analytical and biophysical characterization as needed
  • Train lab personnel on the use of select instrumentation and methods
  • Specify, purchase, and manage the installation of formulation-related instrumentation and equipment 
  • Maintain good documentation in an electronic notebook and write technical reports as required
  • Present data at regular team and cross functional team meetings 
  • Contributes to the company’s core values (agile, visionary, integrated and diverse) 

What We Seek

  • A PhD in chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field (master’s or bachelor’s degree with 5 and 10 years industry experience, respectively, will be considered). 
  • An in-depth understanding of protein physicochemical stability, particularly how solvent conditions and cosolutes impact protein colloidal, conformational and chemical stabilities.
  • Hands-on experience with a variety of analytical methods including SEC, IEX, RP-HPLC, CE-SDS, cIEF and subvisible particle analysis
  • Experience using a variety of biophysical methods for characterizing and measuring conformational and colloidal stability of protein biologics including differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic and static light scattering techniques
  • Ability to design, implement and analyze formulation studies using a one-factor at a time and design of experiment (DOE) approaches using JMP statistical software or similar
  • Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced cross-functional matrix environment 
  • Demonstrated excellent communication (oral and written), teamwork, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills
  • Direct experience in any of the areas listed below would be viewed favorably but are not a requirement for the position:
  • Familiarity with mass spectrometry (MS) methods used for assessing mAb chemical stability and assessing ADC drug to antibody ratios including intact, reduced, and peptide mapping LC/MS
  • Prior experience in lyophilization formulation, cycle development, and analytical testing
  • Experience in oligonucleotide chemistry and characterization methods
  • Experience working with external CMOs and CROs
  • Previous experience managing direct reports
What We Will Provide To You:
  • The base salary range for this role is $127,300-$140,700. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors. 
  • Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits, which includes the opportunity for annual bonus as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
  • A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

Additional Details

  • Title: Scientist I
  • Location: Hybrid - San Diego, CA and Remote
  • Position Type: Full Time / Exempt 
  • Department: Analytical Development & Formulation
  • ID: 3106-2026-2

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