Senior Cosmetic Chemist

cocokind•San Francisco, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

cocokind is seeking a Senior Cosmetic Chemist to play a critical role in leading formulation development and quality rigor across our skincare and beauty portfolio, ensuring products deliver exceptional performance, safety, and durability from concept through its entire lifecycle. This role will collaborate closely with Product Development, Packaging, Quality, Operations, Regulatory, and external manufacturing partners to build formulas that earn community trust and stand the test of time. This is a critical and hands-on role for someone who brings deep cosmetic chemistry expertise and thrives in a nimble, startup environment. Our ideal candidate is obsessed with ingredient performance, passionate about building formulas that work for all skin types, and committed to quality rigor. This role will report to cocokind’s VP of Product Development, Mimi Lu . This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, with in-office presence required at least three days a week.

Requirements

You bring 6-8+ years of cosmetic chemistry or formulation experience, with a proven track record of developing and launching high-performing skincare products.
You have expertise in formulation science, including ingredient functionality, preservation systems, stability, microbiology, and formula–packaging compatibility.
You are fluent in the end-to-end development process, from bench formulation through scale-up, manufacturing, and post-launch support.
You’re highly analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable making data-driven decisions while balancing speed and quality.
You communicate clearly and confidently across technical and non-technical audiences.
You thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on environment and are energized by solving complex formulation challenges.
You resonate with cocokind’s values of inclusivity, sustainability, transparency, and community.
You’re motivated by purpose and take pride in building products that consumers trust and repurchase over time.
Technical expertise in cosmetic formulation and testing methodologies
Exceptional attention to detail and documentation discipline
Strategic thinker with a hands-on execution mindset
Proactive problem-solver with strong risk assessment capabilities
Collaborative partner across Product, Packaging, Quality, and Operations
Adaptable and resilient in a dynamic, high-growth environment
Uncompromising standards for product performance, safety, and quality

Responsibilities

Lead formula prototyping across skincare, color, and bodycare for new innovations, line extensions, reformulations, and tech transfers to manufacturing partners. You will have full ownership of formula creation, cost management, performance, stability, safety, and scalability.
Design and oversee all phases of formula testing, including stability, compatibility, safety and micro, ensuring testing is right-sized, timely, and aligned with development stage and risk level.
Develop and maintain a strategic library of formulation prototypes and standardized formulation systems—leveraging new ingredients, base platforms and pre-approved preservatives —to increase development speed, predictability, consistency, and future innovation flexibility.
Partner closely with Packaging Development to assess formula–package compatibility, durability, and real-world usage risks, ensuring seamless integration between formula and packaging decisions.
Partner with raw material suppliers to evaluate new innovations and build and maintain a comprehensive raw material database including performance, pricing, sourcing details, and lead times to support efficient, informed formulation decisions
Support regulatory and compliance efforts, ensuring formulas meet regulatory requirements and substantiated claims standards.
Maintain meticulous documentation, including formulas, testing results, specifications, and technical rationales to support transparency, scalability, and lifecycle management.
Represent cocokind in technical forums such as supplier meetings, and industry events as needed to stay current on ingredient innovation, formulation science and social content.
Help translate cosmetic chemistry and formulation decisions into accessible, consumer-facing social education.