Description

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Staff Formulation Scientist to join our Integrated Platform Architecture Team, where you will serve as a key technical authority in advancing IDEXX's diagnostic product pipeline through the development of liquid, solid, and lipid-based formulations. In this role, you will not only drive innovation across complex formulation challenges but will also shape the strategic direction of the formulation function — establishing best practices, mentoring scientists, and influencing formulation-related platform-level decisions across key stages of the product development lifecycle. The successful candidate will bring deep domain expertise, a track record of technical leadership, and the ability to operate with significant autonomy in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Why this role matters:
 

This role sits at the intersection of formulation science and diagnostic assay performance, making it critical to the success of IDEXX’s product pipeline. As a Staff Formulation Scientist, you will work cross-functionally with assay development, process engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure that formulation strategies directly enable robust, reliable, and scalable diagnostic solutions. Your expertise in formulation development alongside advanced drying techniques will be essential in stabilizing reagents and preserving assay integrity across real-world conditions.

By translating complex formulation and drying science into practical, manufacturable solutions, you will play a pivotal role in improving assay sensitivity, specificity, and shelf-life. Your contributions will not only solve immediate technical challenges but also shape platform-level approaches, expanding IDEXX’s capabilities and accelerating innovation that ultimately supports animal health, food safety, and global well-being.

In this role:

• You will lead and partner in the development and optimization of liquid, solid, and lipid-based formulations to support the diagnostic product pipeline across multiple stages of development
• You will explore and implement formulation development for alternative drying methodologies — such as spray drying, foam drying, and vacuum drying — to expand the formulation toolbox and identify optimal approaches for reagent stabilization
• You will shape excipient and matrix strategy by leading the systematic evaluation and qualification of stabilizers, excipients, and formulation matrices, setting selection criteria that protect reagent activity under diverse storage and operational demands
• You will investigate the relationship between drying parameters and assay performance, establishing a mechanistic understanding of how formulation and processing conditions impact diagnostic function
• You will develop and apply characterization techniques to assess dried reagent quality, stability, and functional integrity across formulation iterations
• You will collaborate cross-functionally with assay development, manufacturing, and process engineering teams to translate bench-scale formulations into scalable, reproducible processes
• You will support technology transfer activities by generating robust process documentation, defining critical quality attributes, and establishing design space for scale-up or scale-down
• You will troubleshoot formulation and process failures by identifying root causes and implementing corrective strategies that maintain assay performance
• You will drive continuous improvement by staying current with emerging drying technologies and formulation science, applying new methodologies where appropriate to enhance pipeline efficiency and product robustness

What you can expect from us:  

• Salary range starting at $125,000 based on experience
• Opportunity for annual cash bonus
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day-One
• 5% matching 401k
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more 
   

If you’re looking for a role that’ll challenge you, offer a variety of work and learning, while helping an amazing industry, we’d love to hear from you!  

Why IDEXX:
 

We’re proud of the work we do, because our work matters. An innovation leader in every industry we serve since 1983, our team members help pet owners worldwide keep their companion animals healthy and happy, ensure safe drinking water for billions, and help farmers protect livestock and poultry from disease.

We have customers in over 175 countries and a collaborative global workforce. Our culture embraces challenges and encourages learning and discovery. At IDEXX, you’ll be supported by competitive compensation, incentives, and benefits while enjoying purposeful work that drives improvement.

If meaningful work and a sense of purpose are at the top of your list, you’ll find it here. Let’s pursue what matters together.

About the job location:
 

If you’re thinking about relocating for this role, here are a few things to know about living in Maine (often called “Vacationland”). The Westbrook, ME area provides great access to active downtown areas and the outdoors, with the coast and numerous mountains and hiking trails nearby. You’ll also find a number of large companies like ours in the area, creating a vibrant work culture.

You can learn more on the Portland tourism website:  https://www.visitportland.com/visit/resources/moving-to-maine/

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.

While we appreciate our staffing partners, we are unable to accept unsolicited agency resumes.

Requirements

What do you need to succeed:

• Ph.D. in Formulation Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related field with 8+ years of relevant industry experience
• Deep understanding in formulation development across diverse application spaces including dry down, lyophilization, and other drying methods.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate and characterize the relationship between a formulation, the drying processes, and downstream assay or product performance.
• Expertise in formulation development across liquid, solid, and lipid-based systems, with experience selecting and qualifying excipients and stabilizers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to design experiments, interpret complex data sets, and translate findings into actionable formulation strategies.
• Experience supporting technology transfer, process documentation, and the establishment of critical process parameters for manufacturing scale activities.
• Familiarity with diagnostic assay development or working knowledge of how formulation decisions impact assay sensitivity, specificity, and stability.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment, communicating technical concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders.