Formulation Scientist, Tech Ops

Job Description

Job Description

Company Summary:

For over 60 years, MeriCal has been at the forefront of innovation in the dietary supplement industry, delivering custom manufacturing and packaging solutions with passion and precision. With state-of-the-art facilities in Southern California and Ogden, UT, we transform ideas into high-quality products—from research and development to the finished products. Our team, with over 30 years of combined experience, is dedicated to crafting exceptional gummies, probiotics, tablets, capsules, chewables, and powders using clinically backed ingredients. At MeriCal, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them, every time. Join us and be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team shaping the future of nutrition!

The Opportunity:

The Formulation Scientist, Tech Ops is responsible for optimizing and supporting dietary supplement dry dose formulations (tablets, capsules, powders) during scaleup and commercialization. This individual will serve as the technical bridge between R&D, manufacturing, and quality, providing hands-on support ensuring formulations are scientifically sound, manufacturable at scale, stable, and compliant with cGMP and regulatory requirements and provide in-process troubleshooting to ensure formulations run efficiently. This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys solving formulation challenges, experimenting with new approaches and uses root cause analysis to get to the heart of the problem with a focus on first time right. 

What You’ll Do:

• Responsible for all aspects of commercialization including development, ongoing production support and providing functional technical support for manufacturing.
• Overseeing and monitoring pilot and manufacturing scaleup and verification batches.
• Provide technical and scientific input, support and assistance to operations for in-process batches ensuring quality and operational efficiency.
• Partner with operations to investigate manufacturing issues related to formulation performance (e.g., blending inconsistencies, tablet/capsule weight variation and defects, granulation problems, in process specification issues, texture/color deviations, and coating defects), and work to implement effective, timely solutions.
• Identify process optimization and cost savings opportunities.
• Conduct alternate raw material qualification for at risk materials in collaboration with Procurement.
• Prepare technical documentation (manufacturing directions, re-blend instructions and Technical Operations pilot instructions as needed.
• Support root cause analysis for historical issues along with other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support manufacturing department on technical issues and provide deviations, change controls and NCR support as needed.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related scientific field.
• 3+ years of formulation experience in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals focusing on tablets, capsules and powders.
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, excipient selection, and formulation troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with material characterization (bulk density, moisture content, particle size).
• Experience with scale-up processes from lab bench to commercial manufacturing.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent documentation, data analysis and formulation trouble shooting skills.
• Stro