Principal Pharmaceutical Research Scientist (Formulation)

Our client, a leading biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of innovative drug development, is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Pharmaceutical Research Scientist specializing in Formulation to join their R&D team in Seattle, Washington, US . This senior-level role will be instrumental in designing, developing, and optimizing novel drug formulations to enhance efficacy, stability, and patient compliance. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of pharmaceutical sciences, extensive hands-on experience in formulation development, and a proven track record of successfully bringing drug candidates through preclinical and early clinical stages.

Responsibilities: Lead the design, development, and characterization of advanced pharmaceutical formulations (e.g., oral solids, injectables, topical). Conduct extensive pre-formulation studies to understand drug substance properties and guide formulation strategy. Develop and optimize formulation processes, ensuring robustness and scalability for manufacturing. Perform physicochemical characterization of drug products, including dissolution, stability, and impurity profiling. Design and execute experiments to evaluate formulation performance and bioequivalence. Collaborate closely with discovery, analytical development, and regulatory affairs teams to advance drug candidates. Troubleshoot formulation challenges and identify innovative solutions. Contribute to the preparation of regulatory submission documents (e.g., IND, NDA). Stay current with scientific literature, emerging technologies, and industry trends in pharmaceutical formulation. Mentor junior scientists and provide technical guidance on formulation development projects. Manage external contract research organizations (CROs) involved in formulation development activities. Present research findings at internal meetings and scientific conferences. Qualifications: Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field. A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical formulation development within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry. Extensive expertise in various dosage forms (e.g., tablets, capsules, parenteral, ophthalmic, transdermal). Strong knowledge of drug delivery systems and excipient science. Hands-on experience with formulation development and characterization techniques (e.g., HPLC, DSC, TGA, XRD). Proficiency in scale-up and technology transfer activities. Demonstrated success in leading formulation development projects from concept to IND filing. Excellent scientific leadership, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in regulatory documentation. Proven ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment. Experience with novel drug delivery technologies is a significant advantage. Join a world-class scientific team dedicated to creating life-changing medicines.