Senior Scientist - Performance/Analytical Testing

First Quality • FQHCP Connecticut, CT

20h • Onsite

About The Position

First Quality is seeking a Sr. Scientist – Performance/Analytical Testing for their First Quality Home Care Products LLC facility located in Trumbull, CT. This role provides technical support to the R&D team by generating scientific data that informs formulation development and performance evaluation. The position ensures results meet customer brief requirements for cleaning performance while complying with physical and analytically measured specifications. The Sr. Scientist manages existing test methods and develops new internal cleaning performance and analytical methods, oversees demonstrations for internal and external customer visits, and partners with third-party laboratories to align internal methodologies with external evaluation techniques for cleaning performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–10 years of experience in methods development and technical writing.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Regulatory, Sales & Marketing, and Legal teams.
• Ability to motivate and lead by example.
• Strong knowledge of business unit products.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results efficiently and proficiently.
• Proven track record in team and cross-functional project management.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple documents/reports and extract technical information from publications.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in SAP.
• Strong statistical analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Understand the principles and challenges of formulating Home Care products, including SDL (single-dose laundry detergents), HDL (liquid laundry detergents), FSL (liquid fabric softeners), FSS (fabric softener sheets), ADW (auto dishwasher detergent), HDW (hand dishwashing detergents), SB (scent boosters), and others.
• Lead development of laboratory methods that predict consumer purchase intent and liking for key attributes across Home Care products.
• Lead development of demonstrations for internal and external customer visits.
• Schedule cleaning performance testing for samples and formulations submitted by R&D team members.
• Organize sample preparation for consumer insights testing, including in-home-use testing (IHUT) and consumer liking testing (CLT).
• Approve and/or generate internal cleaning performance reports for all tested samples across categories and formats.
• Understand the principles and requirements of Home Care product stability testing protocols.
• Maintain and schedule preventive maintenance for all analytical instruments and laboratory equipment.
• Design and manage an electronic tracker for tested samples, linked to internal testing reports and R&D samples sent for external testing, including benchmark samples.
• Stay current with home care industry test methods, ASTM methods, and standard laboratory methods used in the R&D lab.
• Provide the Product Development Technical Communication Manager with technical information, documents, and reports as requested.
• Understand analytical/instrumental testing principles to support starting-formulation reverse-engineering.
• Stay current on market trends, innovation, new ingredients, and consumer testing methods to support business needs.
• Perform other duties and assignments as necessary.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
• Paid time off (three-week minimum)
• Medical, dental and vision starting day one
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
• Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
• Tuition assistance
• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

What This Job Offers

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