Principal Scientist R&D

Young Living Essential Oils•Lehi, UT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Scientist, Research & Development, serves as a hands-on technical leader within Young Living’s R&D organization, driving applied botanical science, extraction innovation, and product development from concept through commercialization. This role emphasizes real-world execution in regulated environments, combining deep extraction science, analytical chemistry, and formulation experience with strong systems thinking and cross-functional collaboration. This position is ideal for a scientist–operator with demonstrated experience building and optimizing extraction, formulation, and manufacturing systems; translating botanical science into compliant, market-ready products; and operating within GMP-regulated environments. The role supports essential oils, botanicals, and plant-derived ingredients in alignment with Young Living’s Seed to Seal® commitment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent applied experience
7+ years of hands-on experience in applied R&D, botanical extraction, formulation, analytical chemistry, or natural products development
Demonstrated experience with extraction technologies, including distillation, ethanol, CO₂, hydrocarbon extraction, and botanical separations
Strong working knowledge of analytical techniques such as GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, NIR, and chromatography
Experience operating within GMP, quality systems, and regulated manufacturing environments
Proven ability to design experiments, analyze complex datasets, and translate findings into actionable, scalable outcomes
Strong scientific writing, presentation, and cross-functional communication skills
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Nice To Haves

Experience working with essential oils, botanicals, adaptogens, functional mushrooms, or plant-derived ingredients
Background in GMP facility design, process validation, or manufacturing scale-up
Experience supporting FDA-regulated products, compliance remediation, or quality system rebuilds
Familiarity with analytical variability, chemical fingerprinting, and botanical authentication
Experience mentoring or leading cross-functional scientific teams
Experience translating botanical science into compliant product positioning or education

Responsibilities

Lead and execute applied R&D initiatives across essential oils, botanicals, adaptogens, and plant-based ingredients
Design, conduct, and interpret laboratory experiments related to extraction, separation, formulation, and stability
Develop and optimize extraction methodologies, including steam distillation, ethanol extraction, CO₂ extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, hydrosol fractionation, and liquid–liquid separations
Translate experimental findings into scalable, GMP-compliant processes and commercially viable formulations
Support innovation pipelines from early-stage research through pilot-scale validation and commercial manufacturing transfer
Apply and refine botanical extraction and separation technologies, including fractionation, chromatography, sonication, cavitation, and process-enhancing methodologies
Evaluate raw material variability, phytochemical profiles, yield efficiency, and process repeatability
Partner with Operations and Manufacturing to support scale-up, equipment specification, process validation, and batch documentation
Contribute to the optimization of extraction ROI, throughput, and material utilization
Conduct and interpret analytical testing using GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, FTIR, NIR, and related chromatographic and spectrometric techniques
Assess chemical fingerprints, batch-to-batch variability, and ingredient authenticity
Support method development, validation, and troubleshooting of analytical results
Ensure experimental data integrity, traceability, and documentation aligned with quality systems and regulatory expectations
Operate within GMP and quality-driven environments, supporting SOP development, validation, and compliance documentation
Partner with Regulatory and Quality teams to support ingredient reviews, claims substantiation, and regulatory inquiries
Contribute to scientific substantiation, technical justification, and compliant use of botanical ingredients
Serve as a scientific subject matter expert (SME) for extraction science, botanical chemistry, formulation, and process optimization
Author and review technical documentation, including protocols, internal reports, white papers, and scientific summaries
Present scientific background and research findings to internal stakeholders, Brand Partners, and leadership
Translate complex botanical and analytical science into clear, accurate, and engaging messaging for non-technical audiences
Contribute to the development and refinement of laboratory best practices, SOPs, and experimental workflows
Support R&D systems, including LIMS, data traceability tools, and cross-functional workflow integration
Mentor junior scientists and contribute tothe development of technical and operational capabilities within the R&D team
Evaluate emerging technologies, scientific literature, and industry trends to inform innovation strategy
Support external collaborations with vendors, research partners, and third-party laboratories