Formula Scientist

Curio Wellness Corporation; Towson (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

A wellness product company is seeking a Formula Scientist to develop and optimize formulations across various dosage forms. The role demands extensive experience in formulation development, particularly in a regulated environment. The scientist will establish testing protocols, mentor junior staff, and collaborate to ensure product stability and compliance. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in cannabinoid products and substantial experience in product commercialization.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in regulated formulation development.
• Experience with multiple dosage forms (ingestible, topicals, inhalation).
• Knowledge of cGMP and similar quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation development across multiple dosage forms.
• Establish testing protocols and analyze results.
• Mentor and train junior staff in best practices.

Skills

Formulation development

Mentoring skills

Critical thinking

Document management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

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At Curio Wellness we empower people to thrive by adapting plant nature to human nature. We are committed to transforming the conversation around cannabis, fostering a deeper understanding of its benefits, and ensuring that every product we offer meets the highest standards.

The Formula Scientist will lead and execute development of best-in‑class, science‑driven products for Curio Wellness and licensed brand partners across a variety of dosage forms including ingestible (edibles, beverages, tinctures, tablets/capsules), topicals, and inhalation products (vapes, concentrates, infused pre‑rolls). The role requires hands‑on expertise with formulation design, benchtop development, process scale‑up, and manufacturing‑ready specifications in a regulated, compliance‑driven environment (cGMP, state regulations, and applicable quality systems). The Formula Scientist will collaborate cross‑functionally to ensure products are stable, safe, efficacious, manufacturable, and aligned with brand and regulatory requirements, while maintaining the cGMP/5S readiness of the Innovation Suite and supporting material/equipment readiness for new launches.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and scale formulations from benchtop through pilot and manufacturing, ensuring alignment to briefs, sensory targets, stability, cost, and manufacturing constraints.
• Lead formulation development across multiple dosage forms, including ingestible, topicals, and inhalation, with hands‑on understanding of processing and packaging impacts (mixing, emulsification, homogenization, filling, thermal processing, etc.).
• Establish and implement testing protocols (stability, microbiology as applicable, compatibility, performance), analyze results, and drive corrective actions.
• Ensure timing and logistics for submissions/trials and documentation to meet project timelines.
• Demonstrate working familiarity with multiple extraction forms and inputs (e.g., distillate, resin/rosin, isolates, emulsions, and other cannabinoids/terpenes inputs) and their implications for formulation, stability, sensory, and processing.
• Mentor and train a Formula Technician: assign tasks, coach lab/benchtop best practices, reinforce documentation discipline, and support skills development to improve throughput and quality.
• Maintain Innovation Suite cGMP and 5S standards; own hygiene, set‑up, calibration checks assigned, and raw material/packaging readiness.
• Complete required technical documentation (batch records, development logs, change controls as applicable, specifications, SOP inputs).
• Partner with Manufacturing/Quality/Regulatory/Procurement to ensure formulations meet compliance, labeling, and release requirements; support investigations/troubleshooting as needed.
• As a member of the Product Innovation team, the Formula Scientist will have visibility to confidential information and intellectual property, and will be expected to use integrity to protect the confidentiality of this and any sensitive information, not limited to but including formulations, recipes, processes, and ingredients.

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive experience in formulation development and commercialization in one or more of: CPG, food & beverage, nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical, or other regulated consumer products. (Cannabis/CBD strongly preferred.)
• Demonstrated self‑sufficient experience developing and/or supporting production of products across a range of dosage forms, including ingestible, topicals, and inhalation products.
• Working familiarity with multiple extraction forms/inputs and how they influence formulation performance, stability, sensory, and manufacturability.
• Experience operating in a regulated, compliance‑driven environment (e.g., cGMP, HACCP, ISO, pharmaceutical quality systems, state cannabis regulations) with strong documentation practices.
• Strong knowledge of relevant chemistry (food chemistry and/or physical chemistry), processing techniques, and stability principles.
• Strong batch calculation skills and ability to translate benchtop formulas into scalable manufacturing specifications.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot using critical thinking and structured problem‑solving.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to mentor/train junior staff and improve lab execution through best practices.

Preferred

• Experience with emulsions, solubilization, encapsulation, flavor/sensory optimization, and shelf‑life stabilization (as applicable to product types).
• Experience partnering with external labs/consultants and managing technical workstreams.
• Experience specifically in cannabis or CBD product development and regulated manufacturing.
• Experience in food/beverage sector, dietary supplements or pharmaceutical formula development.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemical Engineering (preferred), Chemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field. (Advanced degree a plus.)

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, use hands to finger or feel, use finger dexterity, reach with hands and arms, climb and balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and lift a maximum of 25 lbs.

Curio Wellness is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Must be 21 years old.

Maryland: As a condition of employment, all Curio Wellness employees must comply with the State of Maryland requirements, which include providing a copy of their fingerprints in the required format and consenting to an FBI Background Check.

Missouri: As a condition of employment, all Curio Wellness employees must comply with the State of Missouri requirements, which include providing a copy of their fingerprints in the required format and consenting to an FBI Background Check.