Principal Scientist, Product Development & R&D – Pick Earth Pick Earth

New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists; Woodcliff Lake (NJ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

PICKEARTH™ is seeking a creative, hands-on Principal Scientist to develop reactive, stability-sensitive aqueous formulations for cleaning, hygiene and personal-care products. You will personally design experiments, formulate, and evaluate interactions with packaging and materials, owning the development from concept to pilot production.

The role emphasizes practical invention, with an initial paid contract and potential longer-term employment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated, personally owned formulation and stability work is central.
• Patents and invention disclosures are welcome evidence, but practical invention equivalents are valuable.
• Comfortable doing laboratory work yourself and explaining technical decisions.

Responsibilities

• Personally prepare formulations, build prototypes and run controlled experiments to identify degradation mechanisms and improve stability.
• Develop appropriate analytical methods and stability studies to distinguish retention of an active ingredient from finished-product performance.
• Evaluate formulation compatibility with packaging, closures, polymers, fibers and nonwoven or other absorbent materials, including storage and repeated-use conditions.
• Troubleshoot failed approaches, document results and make clear recommendations about what to advance, change or stop.
• Carry promising work toward pilot production with suppliers, manufacturers and specialist laboratories, considering performance, safety, cost and environmental tradeoffs.

Skills

Formulation

Stability testing

Experimental design

Analytical methods

Laboratory work

Education

Science or Engineering background

Job description

Principal Scientist, Product Development & R&D

Hands-On Formulation, Stability & Materials Compatibility

PICKEARTH™ is seeking a creative, hands-on scientist to develop reactive, stability-sensitive aqueous formulations into reliable, commercially viable products for cleaning, hygiene and personal-care applications.

We want the person who personally formulates, designs experiments, investigates unexpected results and builds working solutions. This is an individual-contributor role with technical ownership, not primarily a people-management or advisory position.

Your Initial Assignment

Develop and evaluate liquid formulations that retain their intended activity and performance through storage and use. Investigate how the formulation interacts with packaging, fibers, polymers and other contact materials, and determine which liquid and material-based delivery formats can work reliably.

The first phase should produce practical evidence: what causes performance loss, which approaches improve stability, which formats merit further development and what is needed to move toward production. A commercially viable liquid format may advance independently of a more complex material-based format.

What You Will Do

• Personally prepare formulations, build prototypes and run controlled experiments to identify degradation mechanisms and improve stability.
• Develop appropriate analytical methods and stability studies to distinguish retention of an active ingredient from finished-product performance.
• Evaluate formulation compatibility with packaging, closures, polymers, fibers and nonwoven or other absorbent materials, including storage and repeated-use conditions.
• Troubleshoot failed approaches, document results and make clear recommendations about what to advance, change or stop.
• Carry promising work toward pilot production with suppliers, manufacturers and specialist laboratories, considering performance, safety, cost and environmental tradeoffs together.

The Experience We Value

Demonstrated, personally owned formulation and stability work is central. Relevant experience may come from cleaning and hygiene products, oxidizing or other reactive aqueous systems, personal care, specialty chemicals, water treatment, or closely related applied product development.

We are particularly interested in people who have created an original solution and carried it beyond an idea into a tested prototype, manufacturing process or commercial product. Patents and invention disclosures are welcome evidence, but equivalent examples of practical invention are equally valuable.

You should be comfortable doing laboratory work yourself, explaining your technical decisions and knowing when specialist support is needed. Scientific or engineering training is helpful; demonstrated capability matters more than a particular degree or title. We do not expect one person to be the expert in every supporting discipline.

Why PICKEARTH™

PICKEARTH™ is being developed as a consumer brand connecting high-performing, high-value everyday products, more sustainable materials and processes, and youth environmental education. You will work directly with experienced product and manufacturing leadership, with room to investigate difficult problems and shape practical solutions. Broader product and materials opportunities may follow as the company develops.

Location And Engagement

Hybrid, with regular hands-on laboratory work in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey (07677). Initial paid contract with potential for longer-term employment by mutual agreement.

Contract compensation: $80-$110 per hour, depending on relevant hands‑on experience and agreed project scope. Weekly hours and project duration will be agreed before engagement.