R&D Chemist I

KDC One • Chatsworth, CA

1d

About The Position

The R&D Chemist I formulates, develops, evaluates, and supports commercialization of cosmetic and personal care products. The role involves hands-on formulation development and optimization across skin care, hair care, body care, fragrance, OTC, color cosmetics, and other personal care categories. The Chemist supports product innovation and reformulation, raw material evaluations, scale-up, and manufacturing while ensuring products meet regulatory, customer, and internal quality requirements.

The Chemist conducts bench-scale formulation work, prepares and documents laboratory batches, evaluates stability and performance, troubleshoots formulation and manufacturing challenges, and provides technical support during pilot, validation, and commercial production. The position collaborates with cross-functional teams and may participate in customer meetings and technical reviews. Work takes place in an R&D laboratory and cosmetic and personal care manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or a related scientific discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on cosmetic formulation experience.
• Experience in personal care, skin care, hair care, fragrance, color cosmetics, or OTC product development.
• Experience taking products from concept through manufacturing scale-up and commercialization.
• Strong working knowledge of cosmetic raw materials and ingredient functionality.
• Experience formulating emulsions, surfactant systems, gels, creams, lotions, serums, butters, waxes, and anhydrous products.
• Knowledge of rheology modifiers, emulsifiers, preservatives, polymers, active ingredients, pigments, fragrances, and specialty ingredients.
• Understanding of product stability, compatibility testing, and product performance evaluations.
• Knowledge of FDA, MoCRA, OTC, PCPC, and cosmetic industry regulations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong formulation troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented approach and commitment to quality and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Creativity, innovation, passion for product development, problem-solving ability, and technical curiosity.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and work in a laboratory environment for extended periods.
• Ability to safely handle cosmetic raw materials and laboratory equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Contract manufacturing and customer-driven product development experience.
• Experience with formulation management systems such as Optiva or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develop, formulate, and optimize cosmetic and personal care products from concept through commercialization.
• Create formulations for skin care, hair care, bath and body, fragrance, OTC, and other personal care products.
• Conduct bench-scale formulation work involving emulsions, suspensions, surfactant systems, gels, creams, lotions, waxes, and anhydrous products.
• Reverse engineer competitive products and develop equivalent or improved formulations.
• Evaluate new raw materials, technologies, and ingredient trends for product development opportunities.
• Prepare laboratory batches and document formulas, procedures, observations, and results accurately.
• Conduct stability, compatibility, and performance testing on formulations.
• Troubleshoot formulation, stability, and manufacturing challenges and recommend corrective actions.
• Support pilot, validation, and commercial production batches and provide technical guidance during scale-up.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Purchasing, Project Management, and Sales to support product launches.
• Review ingredient declarations and support creation of product specifications and technical documentation.
• Ensure formulations comply with applicable regulatory requirements, customer standards, and internal quality expectations.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical presentations, and formulation reviews when required.
• Follow company safety policies, Good Laboratory Practices, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Stay current on cosmetic industry trends, ingredient technologies, and regulatory developments.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level