R&D Assistant

Kayali; Dubai; On-site; AED 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical coverage

Find your magic days

Volunteer day

Birthday leave

Employee discounts on Kayali products

Quarterly product gifting

Job summary

Kayali is seeking a Research & Development Assistant to support the formulation team in developing cosmetic and fragrance products. You will coordinate with external laboratories, manufacturers, and raw material suppliers, maintain technical documentation, and track testing progress.

The role suits someone with a scientific background aiming to build a career in cosmetic research and development. A Bachelor’s in a related field and 1–2 years of industry experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific field.
• 1–2 years of experience in cosmetics, personal care, laboratory, quality, or product development preferred.
• Internship experience in cosmetics industry is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support Formulation Specialist during product development.
• Review formulations from external labs and suppliers; create comparison summaries.
• Assist with ingredient research and benchmarking.
• Maintain formulation records and technical information.
• Coordinate stability and compatibility studies with external labs.
• Prepare and organize samples for testing; track results.
• Maintain and update technical documentation and supplier records.
• Coordinate shipment and tracking of development samples.
• Carry out basic in-house evaluations (pH, viscosity, appearance).
• Prepare samples for internal evaluations and external testing.

Skills

Cosmetic science

Laboratory skills

Documentation

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy

Tools

pH meters

Viscometers

Job description

Who We Are

Fueled by passion, KAYALI was founded in 2018 by beauty mogul and fragrance fanatic, Mona Kattan. Translating to ‘my imagination’ in Arabic, KAYALI provides a modern fragrance experience inspired by Mona’s rich Middle Eastern heritage and the art of layering scents to help you create your mood; where sharing scents is a ritual and smelling good is both an act of goodwill and self-love. Mona collaborates with some of the world’s most renowned perfumers and sources the finest ingredients to create unique juices that are infinitely memorable, long‑lasting, and cruelty‑free. Each luxurious fragrance is an ode to true craftsmanship and tells a special story, from the addictive notes to the multi‑faceted jeweled bottles.

Our Mission

To make everyone feel like the diamond they are! To build a global community of fragrance lovers through the power of scent and by providing them with the most innovative & luxurious fragrances, education and sharing our Middle Eastern fragrance rituals with the world.

Summary

The R&D Assistant will support the Formulation Specialist in the development of cosmetic and fragrance products. This role involves coordinating with external laboratories, manufacturers, and raw material suppliers, while helping to maintain technical documentation, track product testing, and organize development activities. The position is well suited for someone with a scientific background who is interested in building a career in cosmetic research and development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Product Development

• Support the Formulation Specialist during product development activities.
• Review formulation information received from external laboratories and manufacturers and prepare comparison summaries.
• Assist with competitor benchmarking and ingredient research.
• Keep formulation records and technical information organized and up to date.

Stability & Compatibility

• Coordinate stability and compatibility studies with external laboratories.
• Prepare and organize samples for testing.
• Track testing progress and follow up on pending results.
• Compile test reports and notify the Formulation Specialist of any unexpected findings.

Technical Documentation

• Maintain formulation files and product development documentation.
• Prepare and update technical documents, specifications, and formulation records.
• Organize and maintain supplier documentation, including COAs, SDSs, technical data sheets, and test reports.
• Ensure documentation is complete and filed correctly.

Supplier & Laboratory Coordination

• Communicate with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and testing laboratories regarding samples and technical documentation.
• Follow up on outstanding requests and laboratory reports.
• Coordinate the shipment and tracking of development samples.

Laboratory Support

• Carry out basic in-house evaluations when required, including:
• pH measurement
• Viscosity measurement
• Visual appearance checks
• Assist with preparing samples for internal evaluations and external testing.

Requirements & Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or another related scientific field.

Experience

• 1–2 years of experience in cosmetics, personal care, laboratory, quality, or product development is preferred.
• Internship experience in the cosmetics industry is considered a plus.

Knowledge & Skills

• Basic understanding of cosmetic ingredients and formulation principles.
• Familiarity with the cosmetic product development process.
• Basic knowledge of stability and compatibility testing.
• Experience using laboratory equipment such as pH meters and viscometers is an advantage.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable working with technical documents and data.
• Good communication skills and ability to work with different teams and external partners.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is organized, curious, and eager to learn. They should be comfortable handling multiple tasks, following up with suppliers and laboratories, and maintaining accurate technical documentation. An interest in cosmetic formulation and product development is important, along with a proactive attitude and willingness to support the wider R&D team.

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
• Find your Magic Days
• Volunteer Day
• Birthday Leave
• Employee discounts on all Kayali products
• Quarterly product gifting