Chemist/Manager

CPS, Inc.; Crestwood (MO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

401k

Job summary

CPS, Inc. in Missouri is seeking a dedicated Chemist to lead formulation and development of automotive care products. This role focuses on bringing capabilities in-house from contract manufacturers, developing, modifying, and troubleshooting formulations, and supporting blending, filling, and production processes.

The position involves establishing laboratory and production infrastructure, evaluating materials, and guiding future growth with hands-on leadership of formulation activities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry or related field; strong industry experience may substitute
• 5+ years of industry experience preferred
• Direct experience formulating automotive care/auto appearance products preferred
• Strong hands-on formulation development experience
• Knowledge of blending, filling, and packaging
• Understanding of raw materials, formulation adjustments, and product performance
• Ability to troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing issues
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of a laboratory/formulation function
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to help determine equipment, processes, and resources for in-house production
• Experience working with contract manufacturers is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead the formulation and development of automotive care products
• Bring formulation and product development capabilities in-house from existing contract manufacturing relationships
• Develop, modify, optimize, and troubleshoot formulations
• Support products across car wash, detailing, cleaning, polishing, protection, and treatment categories
• Evaluate raw materials and formulation components to achieve targeted product performance
• Develop and document formulation procedures and specifications
• Support blending, filling, packaging, and production processes
• Establish processes and procedures for an in-house laboratory and production operation
• Determine laboratory, production, and testing equipment needs and provide recommendations for capital purchases
• Work with vendors and manufacturing partners during the transition to in-house production
• Troubleshoot production and product-quality issues
• Support scale-up from laboratory formulations to commercial production
• Establish appropriate testing and quality-control procedures
• Work closely with operations and management to build the infrastructure needed for future growth
• Provide technical guidance as formulation and production capabilities expand
• Potentially build and lead a technical/laboratory team as the operation grows
• Help guide the company on the technical resources and capabilities needed to support continued growth

Skills

Formulation development

Troubleshooting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project ownership

Education

Degree in Chemistry or related field

Tools

Blending equipment

Filling equipment

Packaging equipment

Job description

Base salary $100,000-$130,000

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, PTO, 401k.

Join a growing organization as the first dedicated Chemist supporting an expanding automotive care product line. This is a unique opportunity to bring formulation and production capabilities in-house, develop and optimize auto appearance products, help build the laboratory and manufacturing infrastructure, and potentially grow into leading a technical team.

Requirements

• Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific field preferred; strong industry experience may substitute for a degree
• 5+ years of industry experience preferred, with flexibility based on overall experience
• Direct experience formulating automotive care/auto appearance products strongly preferred
• Strong hands-on formulation development experience
• Knowledge of blending, filling, and packaging
• Understanding of raw materials, formulation adjustments, and product performance
• Ability to troubleshoot formulation and manufacturing issues
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of a laboratory/formulation function
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to help determine equipment, processes, and resources required for in-house production
• Experience working with contract manufacturers is a plus

Job Duties

• Lead the formulation and development of automotive care products
• Bring formulation and product development capabilities in-house from existing contract manufacturing relationships
• Develop, modify, optimize, and troubleshoot formulations
• Support products across car wash, detailing, cleaning, polishing, protection, and treatment categories
• Evaluate raw materials and formulation components to achieve targeted product performance
• Develop and document formulation procedures and specifications
• Support blending, filling, packaging, and production processes
• Establish processes and procedures for an in-house laboratory and production operation
• Determine laboratory, production, and testing equipment needs and provide recommendations for capital purchases
• Work with vendors and manufacturing partners during the transition to in-house production
• Troubleshoot production and product-quality issues
• Support scale-up from laboratory formulations to commercial production
• Establish appropriate testing and quality-control procedures
• Work closely with operations and management to build the infrastructure needed for future growth
• Provide technical guidance as formulation and production capabilities expand
• Potentially build and lead a technical/laboratory team as the operation grows
• Help guide the company on the technical resources and capabilities needed to support continued growth