Principal Formulation Scientist (Founding Lab Lead)

About the Company

We are building a next-generation formulation facility where AI proposes experiments, robotics run them, and scientists steer the science.

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on formulation scientist who wants to help build it from the ground up and stay close to the bench while doing it. This is a rare mix: real ownership and a small team to lead, without giving up the lab work that got you here.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation strategy and run hands-on development across oral solids, suspensions, lipid systems, controlled-release, your priority dosage forms
• Develop and operate analytical and characterisation methods, including HPLC/UPLC, dissolution, DSC, particle sizing and more
• Own projects end to end, from formulation design through to data and decisions
• Help translate manual workflows into automated, reproducible, higher-throughput processes
• Work alongside ML, data and automation colleagues to feed a closed-loop platform
• Grow and mentor a small team as the lab scales

Qualifications

• Hands-on formulation bench experience within the last 5 years, not just oversight
• Method development experience, actively operating lab equipment within the last 5 years
• Leadership or clear project ownership. Leading a small team counts, owning a project end to end counts
• Based in, or happy to be on-site in, Oxford or Cambridge
• Degree in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering or a related field. MSc or PhD welcome, but your bench track record matters most

Required Skills

• Exposure to lab automation, high-throughput experimentation or self-driving labs
• Familiarity with design of experiments, Bayesian optimisation or ML-guided experimentation
• ELN or LIMS experience, and advanced drug delivery (LNP, long-acting injectable, controlled release)
• GxP or data integrity awareness

Nathan.Sharpe@skillsalliance.com

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