R&D Formulation Chemist

Malco Products•Barberton, OH

22h

About The Position

The R&D Formulation Chemist develops innovative and competitive products for the automotive appearance, detailing, and restoration industry. The role leads new product development from concept through production scale-up and works cross-functionally with Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to meet customer expectations and respond to requests for new and improved products. The position covers formulation research and development, raw material research and sourcing, efficacy and stability studies, lab-scale production, manufacturing protocol development, specification creation, and production scale-up. The chemist also supports regulatory compliance, GHS Safety Data Sheet development and maintenance, product complaint investigations, technical assistance to internal departments, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, or a related science discipline.
At least 7 years of new product formulation experience.
Experience conducting stability studies, efficacy testing, and production scale-up in a laboratory or manufacturing environment.
Familiarity with GHS/SDS requirements and chemical safety and health regulations at state, national, and international levels.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, including the ability to manage concurrent projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a cross-functional team.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
New product formulation experience in consumer products and/or the automotive detailing industry, including compounds, polishes, waxes, tire dressings, and car wash products.
Experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with laboratory information management systems.

Responsibilities

Develop and perform formulation work, including product research, raw material research and sourcing, formulation development, efficacy studies, lab-scale production, stability studies, manufacturing protocol development, specification creation, and production scale-up.
Work with Quality to develop product specifications and test methods and ensure formulations meet internal quality standards before release.
Work with contract customers to develop products and oversee production scale-up, ensuring customer requirements are met throughout the process.
Evaluate new and alternative raw materials for functionality, stability, regulatory compliance, and cost-reduction opportunities.
Identify product improvement opportunities with Sales and Marketing and translate market needs into formulation concepts.
Research current and proposed raw materials for compliance with state, national, and international safety and health regulations; identify and address necessary formula modifications.
Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and project files, and communicate project status, findings, and recommendations to stakeholders in a timely manner.
Provide data and technical recommendations to support GHS Safety Data Sheet (SDS) development and maintenance.
Develop working knowledge of Malco product lines and provide technical assistance to Sales, Marketing, Quality Control, and other departments as needed.
Participate in cross-functional Quality Improvement Teams (QIT) and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Investigate product complaints, analyze reported issues, identify root causes, and recommend corrective actions.