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Sr. Scientist, Drug Delivery- Onsite in Aliso Viejo

Glaukos Corporation
United States, California, Aliso Viejo
Sep 11, 2026

What You'll Do:

Drug Delivery and Formulation Development



  • Lead the design, development, and optimization of novel drug delivery systems, including sustained-release and controlled-release dosage forms.
  • Develop targeted and sustained drug delivery formulations using polymeric matrices, implants, microparticles, nanoparticles, hydrogels and other advanced delivery technologies.
  • Design and execute studies to characterize drug release kinetics, formulation stability, material properties, and product performance.
  • Evaluate structure-property relationships that influence drug loading, release behavior, stability, manufacturability, and product quality.
  • Select and characterize excipients, polymers, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and other critical raw materials.


Process Development and Scale-Up



  • Develop robust and scalable formulation and manufacturing processes to support preclinical, clinical, and commercial supply.
  • Apply Quality by Design and Design of Experiments principles to identify critical material attributes, critical process parameters, and critical quality attributes.
  • Lead technical troubleshooting and root-cause investigations for formulation, process, and product-performance challenges.
  • Support process scale-up, technology transfer, process characterization, and validation activities with internal teams and external manufacturing partners.
  • Provide technical leadership for hot melt extrusion process development and optimization when applicable.


Scientific Leadership and Innovation



  • Provide scientific and technical leadership across multiple drug delivery programs, influencing platform strategy, development priorities, and key project decisions.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert in sustained-release technologies, formulation science, and pharmaceutical drug delivery.
  • Identify technical risks, recommend mitigation strategies, and communicate development options to cross-functional teams and leadership.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and translate relevant scientific advances into practical development strategies.
  • Contribute to invention disclosures, patent applications, publications, and other intellectual-property activities.


Cross-Functional Collaboration and Regulatory Support



  • Partner with CMC, Analytical Development, Nonclinical, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing to align technical plans with program objectives.
  • Author and review protocols, technical reports, development summaries, presentations, and CMC sections of regulatory submissions.
  • Support responses to health authority questions related to formulation, process development, characterization, and product performance.
  • Manage technical interactions with consultants, contract research organizations, contract development and manufacturing organizations, and other external partners.


Mentorship and Compliance



  • Mentor junior scientists and research associates and provide guidance on experimental design, data interpretation, documentation, and scientific communication.
  • Maintain complete, accurate, and timely laboratory records and development documentation.
  • Ensure activities comply with applicable quality systems, cGMP expectations, safety requirements, and internal procedures.


How You'll Get There:

Required Qualifications



  • PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related scientific discipline with 0-4+ years of relevant pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or combination product development experience, including substantial experience in drug delivery and formulation development.
  • Demonstrated expertise in sustained-release or controlled-release drug delivery technologies.
  • Experience leading formulation and process development from early feasibility through scale-up and technology transfer.
  • Strong working knowledge of polymer science, material characterization, drug-release testing, stability assessment, and pharmaceutical development principles.
  • Ability to independently design experiments, analyze complex data, draw scientifically sound conclusions, and recommend next steps.
  • Excellent technical writing, presentation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS



  • Hands-on industrial experience with hot melt extrusion, injection molding, and hydrogel processing including formulation development, equipment selection, process optimization, scale-up, and troubleshooting.
  • Experience developing ophthalmic drug products, long-acting delivery systems, implants, inserts, or combination products.
  • Experience with polymer-based drug delivery systems and characterization of solid dispersions or extrudates.
  • Knowledge of cGMP manufacturing, process validation, and technology transfer requirements.
  • Experience supporting IND, IMPD, NDA, or other global regulatory submissions.
  • Track record of publications, or significant scientific contributions in drug delivery.
  • This role is based onsite in Aliso Viejo, CA.


CORE COMPETENCIES



  • Scientific rigor and sound independent judgment
  • Hands-on technical leadership and accountability
  • Innovation and practical problem solving
  • Cross-functional partnership and influence
  • Clear technical communication
  • Mentorship and talent development
  • Commitment to quality, compliance, and patient-focused outcomes


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