Cosmetic R&D: Formulation & Innovation Chemist

PROJECT CHEMISTRY INC; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Project Chemistry seeks an R&D Innovation Chemist to formulate, investigate, invent, and solve challenging cosmetic formulation problems in a hands-on lab setting.

This full-time, on-site role in Irvine focuses on client and internal projects, delivery systems, stability, and scalable technologies, with opportunities to contribute to IP development. Collaboration with suppliers and manufacturers is expected, along with thorough documentation of results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cosmetic Science, or related field.
• BS or MS in Cosmetic Science is strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of hands-on cosmetic or personal care formulation experience.
• Strong knowledge of cosmetic formulation science, raw materials, solubility, stability, and delivery systems.
• Experience designing experiments, troubleshooting formulations, and interpreting technical results.
• Demonstrated ability to independently own technical projects and drive experimental workstreams from concept through completion.
• Experience with scale-up, manufacturing support, technology transfer, or external analytical testing.
• Strong critical-thinking and problem-solving skills with a creative, curious, and experimental mindset.
• Excellent scientific communication, organization, and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial R&D environment.
• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Experience contributing to patents, invention disclosures, publications, technical papers, advanced delivery technologies, or scientific presentations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Formulate innovative cosmetic products across skincare, haircare, body care, sun care, and emerging categories.
• Develop novel delivery systems, ingredient complexes, and enabling formulation technologies for client and internal innovation programs.
• Lead solubility mapping, stabilization, and incorporation strategies for novel, unstable, or poorly soluble actives.
• Design hypothesis-driven experiments, interpret results, identify root causes, and use data to guide development.
• Independently advance internal R&D programs from early concept and experimentation through proof-of-concept and validation.
• Conduct stability evaluation, troubleshooting, technical documentation, and performance analysis to support reproducible development.
• Research and evaluate emerging ingredients, scientific literature, supplier technologies, and technical data to identify new innovation opportunities.
• Support analytical testing, scale-up, and technology transfer with contract manufacturers and external laboratories.
• Contribute to technical briefs, scientific data packages, invention documentation, publications and potential intellectual property development.
• Communicate technical findings and scientific rationale clearly to internal teams, clients, suppliers, and external partners

Skills

Laboratory formulation skills

Experimental design

Analytical thinking

Scientific communication

Project management

Education

BS/MS in Chemistry or related field

BS/MS in Cosmetic Science strongly preferred

Tools

HPLC

LC-MS

Job description

Project Chemistry seeks an R&D Innovation Chemist to formulate, investigate, invent, and solve challenging cosmetic formulation problems in a hands-on lab setting.

This full-time, on-site role in Irvine focuses on client and internal projects, delivery systems, stability, and scalable technologies, with opportunities to contribute to IP development. Collaboration with suppliers and manufacturers is expected, along with thorough documentation of results.