Formulations Scientist II

ENAI; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Annual cash incentives

Generous paid time off

Flexible Time Off

Sick days

12 holidays per year

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Wellness benefits

401K savings plan

Job summary

ENAI in Boston seeks a formulation senior scientist to lead development of biological products, from concept through proof-of-concept. You’ll design studies, drive technical direction, and mentor junior team members in a hands‑on lab setting.

The role reports to the Senior Director, Bioprocessing and Formulations and is based in our Boston office and laboratory, with opportunities to advance science that improves crop protection and performance.

Qualifications

• PhD with 2+ years formulation experience or MS with 5+ years industry experience.
• Expertise in formulation development and physicochemical principles.
• Experience formulating biological products or working with living systems.
• Ability to design experiments and translate results into recommendations.
• Ownership of technical projects and proactive work style.
• Strong scientific judgment and creativity.
• Experience developing agricultural formulations preferred.
• Encapsulation, coatings or advanced delivery technologies desirable.

Responsibilities

• Advance formulation development for biological products and evaluate novel technologies.
• Design, execute, analyze and communicate rigorous formulation studies addressing viability, stability, compatibility, and performance.
• Own formulation projects and drive technical direction, identify risks and next steps.
• Select and optimize excipients and functional materials for formulations.
• Serve as technical leader and mentor to junior team members.
• Maintain hands‑on lab presence while delivering creative solutions.

Skills

Formulation development

Physicochemical principles

Colloid science

Rheology

Particle science

Material properties

Education

PhD in chemistry / chemical engineering / materials science / food science

MS with 5+ years industry experience

Tools

Encapsulation

Coatings

Job description

At ENAI, we’re building the biological future of crop protection and plant performance. We combine deep biological expertise, proprietary intelligence, and more than 7,500 field trials to develop practical biological solutions that help farmers protect crop potential, improve plant performance, and realize more from every acre.

Our work brings science into the field. You’ll collaborate with experts across science, agriculture, technology, and commercial innovation to turn biological insights into practical solutions that make a difference for farmers. You’ll have the opportunity to work across disciplines, contribute to meaningful challenges in agriculture, and help bring new ideas from discovery to the field.

Join us in making biological crop protection an essential part of modern agriculture.

About This Role

Reporting to the Senior Director, Bioprocessing and Formulations, you’ll drive formulation development for biological products, from exploring novel formulation and delivery technologies through experimental proof-of-concept. You’ll independently design and lead rigorous studies, solve complex formulation challenges, and shape technical direction across projects. As a formulation subject matter expert, you’ll also bring scientific leadership and mentorship to the team while maintaining a hands‑on presence in the lab.

This role is based in our Boston office and laboratory.

Key Responsibilities

• Advance formulation development for biological products by identifying and evaluating novel formulation and delivery technologies from internal and external sources, and translating promising concepts into experimental proof‑of‑concept
• Independently design, execute, analyze, and communicate rigorous formulation studies to address key product requirements, including microbial viability and stability, compatibility, physical properties, and application performance.
• Own formulation projects and drive technical direction, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and next steps while adapting experimental plans as priorities and technical needs evolve.
• Select and optimize excipients and functional materials based on their properties and intended function within the formulation.
• Serve as a technical leader and formulation subject matter expert, bringing new scientific perspectives and providing guidance and mentorship to junior team members.
• Maintain a strong hands‑on presence in the laboratory while contributing creative, scientifically grounded solutions to complex formulation challenges.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, food science, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant formulation experience, or MS with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in formulation development and relevant physicochemical principles, such as colloid and interface science, rheology, particle science, and material properties.
• Experience formulating biological products or otherwise working with living systems, with an understanding of the constraints associated with maintaining biological viability and function.
• Proven ability to independently design and execute experiments, interpret complex data, and translate results into clear conclusions and technical recommendations.
• Demonstrated ownership of technical projects and a proactive, independent working style, with the confidence to speak up, challenge assumptions, and drive work forward.
• Strong scientific judgment, creativity, and ability to develop practical solutions to novel technical problems.
• Experience developing agricultural formulations strongly preferred.
• Experience with encapsulation, coatings, or other advanced formulation and delivery technologies highly desirable.
  

How We'll Take Care of You

Base salary of $130,000 - $150,000annually

Equity options & annual cash incentives

Generous paid time off, including Flexible Time Off, 5 sick days,and 12 annual company holidays as well as one week between Christmas and New Year’s for a company-wide annual break, parental leave, and bereavement leave.

Robust wellness benefits for employees and their eligible dependents including medical, dental, vision, mental health, and basic life and disability insurance

Optional benefits available include Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), identity protection, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance

401K savings plan

Pay Transparency Statement

ENAI is committed to competitive and equitable pay for all employees. The listed pay range for this role is a good faith estimate of the hiring range for this position. Compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including an individual’s experience, qualifications, and geographic location.

Benefits Statement

All regular, full-time, permanent employees who work 30 hours or more each week are eligible to enroll in ENAI’s benefits. Additionally, all full-time employees and some parttime employees are eligible for paid time off as outlined above. Based on their role, employees may also be eligible to receive long-term equity incentives and annual cash incentives.