Experienced Scientist Solid Development (Fixed-term)

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com. As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit. Job Function: Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development Job Sub Function: Pharmaceutical Product R&D Job Category: Scientific/Technology All Job Posting Locations: Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium Job Description: Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine We are seeking pioneering individuals who are passionate about advancing the field of medicine. This 36‑month Experienced Scientist position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of groundbreaking oral therapeutics. If you are inspired by the prospect of driving innovation and making a meaningful impact on future patient care, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of healthcare. About the Department The Global Drug Product Research and Development (DPRD) organization, part of the Discovery, Product Development and Supply (DPDS) division of JJIM, is committed to advancing robust and innovative drug product solutions. Within DPRD, the Solids Development department is dedicated to developing high‑quality oral solid dosage forms and driving innovation across a broad range of small‑molecule and emerging therapeutic modalities. We are currently seeking an Experienced Scientist in Solids Development for 36‑month assignment at our Beerse site in Antwerp, Belgium. In this key role, you will design and develop oral solid formulations and processes, evaluate and implement new technologies and processing approaches, and support collaborations that strengthen our development capabilities. You will play an essential part in shaping next‑generation oral solid drug products that meet patient needs and align with JJIM’s strategic objectives. Key Responsibilities Scientific & Technical Expertise Build and maintain strong technical and scientific knowledge across oral solid dosage technologies, including blending, dry granulation, wet granulation, spray drying, compression, film coating, and encapsulation. Apply this expertise to ensure robust product and process development. Innovation & Problem-Solving Contribute to innovation by identifying opportunities and exploring novel oral solid drug delivery technologies to enhance formulation robustness and improve bioavailability, manufacturability, and stability. Formulation & Process Strategy Support the development of formulation and process approaches that translate APIs into stable, scalable, and patient‑centric oral solid dosage forms aligned with JJIM’s commercial manufacturing capabilities. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with global development, analytical, manufacturing, and regulatory teams to ensure alignment of formulation and process strategies across all development phases. Join our team and help drive the development of breakthrough therapeutics that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes worldwide. Your Impact As an Experienced Scientist within the Solids Development team, you will contribute to advancing drug product development across a diverse portfolio. Your responsibilities will include: Hands‑On Formulation Development Design, execute, and evaluate laboratory‑scale formulation and process development activities for oral solid dosage forms using a variety of unit operations including blending and milling, dry granulation (roller compaction), wet granulation (fluid bed or high-shear), spray drying, compression, film coating, and encapsulation, and leveraging innovation platforms such as additive manufacturing (3D printing). Cross‑Functional Engagement Partner closely with DPRD team (for example, Pharmaceutical & Material Sciences, PSES), Discovery Pharmaceutics, Preclinical & Clinical teams, Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical Development, API Development, Clinical Supply Chain, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure seamless end‑to‑end development. Closely interact with JJIM Supply Chain teams to transfer products to internal or external commercial sites as per strategy. Technology & Platform Development Contribute to optimize existing formulation and processing platforms. Participate in evaluating and screening external technologies with potential to strengthen Solids Development capabilities and product performance. Experimental Execution & Collaboration Work with product development team and contribute to plan, execute, and interpret development studies at lab and pilot scale. Provide scientifically sound recommendations based on experimental outcomes. Perform data analysis and suggest next experimental plan. Documentation & Knowledge Capture Document experimental procedures, results, and scientific rationale in technical reports, protocols, batch records, and regulatory submission sections. Contribute to scientific publications, patents, and internal decision‑making. Quality, Safety & Compliance Ensure all activities comply with applicable regulatory expectations, GMP principles, and safety requirements. Maintain high standards of data integrity and laboratory practice. Join us in this engaging role to help shape the next generation of pharmaceutical innovations and deliver high‑quality oral solid dosage products to patients worldwide. What We Seek: We are looking for dynamic individuals with a robust background in drug product formulation and process development. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and attributes: Educational Background: A Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Industrial Pharmacy, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biological or Physical Sciences, or a related field, with preferably 1 year of relevant industry experience. Alternatively, a Bachelors Degree in relevant fields with a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience or a Masters Degree in relevant fields with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. Formulation Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency in formulation design and process development for oral solid dosage forms. Possess sound knowledge of pharmaceutical unit operations, material characteristics, hands-on experience with unit operations that are standard within Oral solids department. Pre-Formulation and Characterization Knowledge: Familiarity with pre-formulation activities and physico-chemical characterization of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and final drug products. Technological Implementation: Expertise in implementing advanced technologies related to drug formulation and development, with the ability to determine critical quality attributes, process parameters, and material attributes. Willingness to Travel: A readiness to engage in international travel, approximately 5-15% of the time. If you are passionate about advancing the field of oral solids development and possess the qualifications outlined, we encourage you to join our team and make a meaningful impact in pharmaceutical innovation! Why JJIM: Dynamic Internatio