At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead formulation strategy and hands-on development in a cutting-edge lab environment.
- Company: Join a pioneering formulation facility blending AI, robotics, and scientific expertise.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunity for real ownership, and a chance to shape the future of science.
- Other info: Exciting growth potential in a dynamic team setting.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovation while staying close to the lab work you love.
- Qualifications: Hands-on formulation experience and leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are building a next-generation formulation facility where AI proposes experiments, robotics run them, and scientists steer the science.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Principal Formulation Scientist (Founding Lab Lead) in Banbury employer: Stealth AI Startup
Join us at the forefront of innovation in our next-generation formulation facility, where you'll have the unique opportunity to lead a small team while remaining hands-on in the lab. Our collaborative work culture fosters creativity and growth, allowing you to take ownership of projects from conception to execution, all within the vibrant academic hubs of Oxford or Cambridge. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and mentorship, we are committed to your professional development and making a meaningful impact in the pharmaceutical sciences.
