Formulation Chemist

Actalent; Livonia (MI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Formulation Chemist in Livonia, MI to develop new formulations from scratch and optimize existing products for performance and cost. The role requires hands-on formulation changes, material substitutions, and validation testing to ensure manufacturability.

You will collaborate with R&D, manufacturing, procurement and technical service to maintain product robustness, quality, and timely development timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 27 years of experience in formulation, product development, or applied chemistry.
• Hands-on experience with formulation changes and optimization, raw material evaluation and substitution, and testing and performance validation.
• Strong understanding of chemical interactions, stability, and compatibility.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results on time.

Responsibilities

• Create new formulations and modify existing ones to improve performance or reduce costs.
• Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with products.
• Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps.
• Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations.
• Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in quality systems.
• Assist manufacturing during pilot runs and production scale-ups.
• Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints.
• Collaborate with procurement, operations, and technical service to implement changes.
• Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.

Skills

Formulation experience

Product development

Applied chemistry

Project management

Material substitution

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Chemistry / Chemical Engineering / Materials Science

Tools

Wet chemistry techniques

Job description

Job Title: Formulation Chemist

This role focuses on the formulation of new products from scratch. It also involves the modification of existing products, raw material substitutions, cost optimization, and simple new product development, ensuring product performance, quality, and manufacturability. The chemist will work closely with R&D, manufacturing, procurement, and technical service teams to maintain product robustness and accelerate development timelines.

Responsibilities

• Creating new formulations, modifying existing formulations to improve performance, reduce costs, or address supply chain changes.

• Evaluate alternative suppliers, test new raw materials, and ensure compatibility with existing products.

• Develop incremental or derivative products based on customer needs or market gaps.

• Conduct performance testing, stability studies, and application evaluations.

• Maintain formulation records, test reports, and SOPs in compliance with internal quality systems.

• Assist manufacturing teams during pilot runs and production scale ups.

• Investigate formulation issues, quality deviations, or customer complaints.

• Work with procurement, operations, and technical service to ensure smooth implementation of formulation changes.

• Identify opportunities to streamline formulations, reduce complexity, or improve sustainability.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors or masters degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.

• 27 years of experience in formulation, product development, or applied chemistry.

• Hands-on experience with formulation changes and optimization, raw material evaluation and substitution, and application testing and performance validation.

• Strong understanding of chemical interactions, stability, and compatibility.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver results on time.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Strong understanding of laboratory and wet chemistry techniques.

Work Environment

The work environment is characterized by a smaller company feel, which fosters loyalty and rewards long-term commitment with annual increases and bonuses. Operating Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, this role provides a structured work schedule. The company has a rich history, established in 1953 as manufacturers of surface finishing chemicals, and has evolved to provide technologically advanced, innovative products globally. The organization is committed to advancing its technological capabilities and fostering employee development through education and training. The company values collaboration with research universities and organizations to promote continuous learning and improvement.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Livonia, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $90000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Working to get overall company benefits

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Livonia,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.