Formulation Chemist

Actalent; Shelton (CT); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan with pre-tax

Life Insurance & AD&D

Short/long-term disability

HSA

Commuter transportation benefits

PTO & Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Formulation Chemist to develop, optimize, and troubleshoot formulations for personal care, household, and disinfection products in a Shelton, CT setting. The role emphasizes wet chemistry, prototype development, and collaboration with an R&D team to meet quality and performance standards.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 2 years of benchtop formulation experience, strong knowledge of surfactants and emulsions, and solid data documentation skills.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry (preferred) or related scientific field.
• Minimum 2 years of industry experience with benchtop formulation.
• Hands-on wet chemistry techniques and product performance testing.
• Knowledge of surfactants and emulsion technology in personal care formulations.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and optimize personal care, household, and disinfection product prototypes.
• Design and prepare formulations highlighting preservatives, emollients, surfactants, and other ingredients.
• Conduct benchtop formulation activities including weighing, mixing, emulsifying, and processing raw materials.
• Perform wet chemistry testing and performance studies to evaluate efficacy, stability, and usability.
• Troubleshoot formulations for stability, performance, aesthetics, and processing issues.
• Apply emulsion and surfactant technology to refine formulations for desired performance.
• Select ingredients based on functionality and interactions.
• Monitor industry trends to inform formulation strategies.
• Collaborate with lab colleagues and document procedures and results using standard lab practices.

Skills

Benchtop formulation

Wet chemistry

Product performance testing

Surfactants

Emulsion technology

Raw materials interactions

Industry trends awareness

Communication skills

Data entry / lab software

Independent bench work

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Biology

Tools

Laboratory software

Job description

Job Title: Formulation Chemist Job Description The Formulation Chemist develops, optimizes, and troubleshoots formulations for personal care, household, and disinfection products. This role focuses on creating effective prototypes, conducting wet chemistry and performance testing, and supporting research and development initiatives to ensure products meet quality, efficacy, and application standards.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and optimize a wide range of personal care, household, and disinfection product prototypes.
• Design and prepare personal care formulations that highlight preservatives, emollients, quaternary compounds, surfactants, and other key ingredients.
• Perform benchtop formulation activities, including weighing, mixing, emulsifying, and processing raw materials into stable finished products.
• Conduct wet chemistry testing and performance/application studies to evaluate product efficacy, stability, and usability.
• Troubleshoot existing formulations to resolve issues related to stability, performance, aesthetics, or processing.
• Apply emulsion and surfactant technology principles to develop and refine formulations for desired performance and sensory attributes.
• Utilize knowledge of personal care and household product raw materials to select appropriate ingredients and understand their functionality and interactions.
• Monitor and incorporate relevant industry trends into formulation strategies and product development projects.
• Collaborate closely with laboratory colleagues to share findings, discuss challenges, and contribute to a team-oriented R&D environment.
• Document formulation procedures, test results, and observations accurately using computer-based systems and standard laboratory practices.
• Communicate formulation progress, issues, and recommendations clearly and professionally to internal stakeholders.
• Support continuous improvement by participating in training and development opportunities and applying new techniques and technologies to formulation work.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Chemistry (preferred), Biology, or a related scientific field.
• Minimum of 2 years of industry experience with benchtop formulation in a laboratory or R&D environment.
• Hands-on experience with wet chemistry techniques and product performance testing.
• Practical knowledge of surfactants and their role in personal care and household product formulations.
• Strong understanding of emulsion technology and general formulation techniques.
• Knowledge of personal care and household product raw materials, including their functionality and interactions within formulations.
• Awareness of current industry trends in personal care, household, and related product categories.
• Proficient communication skills, both written and verbal, for documenting work and collaborating with team members.
• Proficient computer skills for data entry, documentation, and use of laboratory-related software.
• Ability to work independently at the bench while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Shelton, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $40.00/hr. 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. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Shelton,CT.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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.