R&D Chemist - Home Care

Caliscc; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Caliscc's R&D Chemist — Home Care role develops and supports laundry care, cleaners, and air freshening products in the North Hollywood lab. You will work with product development, process engineering, regulatory, and QA to drive projects from brief to launch and handle lab testing for batches, prototypes, and materials.

You will contribute to formulation, scale-up, and audits, while maintaining accurate records and collaborating across teams to meet customer needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related science is required.
• Minimum 5 years in a Chemist role in HI&I consumer products.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations for global home care formulation.
• Formulation experience in laundry detergents, fabric care, cleaners, and air freshening products.
• Strong computer knowledge and data handling skills.
• Willingness to work onsite in North Hollywood and adapt to peak periods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support laundry care, household cleaning, and air freshening products.
• Conduct chemical and physical testing on lab batches, finished goods, and raw materials.
• Prepare paperwork (CoA, submission forms) and labels for submissions.
• Provide technical support to product development managers and QA teams.
• Adjust batches and validate specifications as needed.
• Collaborate with process engineering on scale-up to pilot and production.
• Maintain real-time, accurate formula entries and documentation.
• Troubleshoot formulation and process issues; communicate results to teams.
• Assist with general lab and administrative tasks in R&D.
• Oversee pilot and initial production batches when required.
• Calibrate R&D lab equipment and participate in internal audits.
• Share knowledge with cross-functional teams to meet customer needs.

Skills

Chemical analysis

Quality control

Laboratory skills

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

Job description

The R&D Chemist — Home Care will work in the R&D Laboratory developing and supporting laundry care, household cleaning, and air freshening products. This role communicates regularly with product development managers, process engineers, regulatory, and the quality unit, and is responsible for completing projects based on workflow assigned by the R&D Director. This position conducts a variety of chemical and physical laboratory testing on lab batches, finished goods, prototype formulas, and home care raw materials for purposes including product and process development, product stability, and quantitative/qualitative performance analysis. This position also requires assisting with general lab and administrative functions in the R&D Department. This role is expected to work onsite regularly in North Hollywood.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Promotes a safe working environment and adheres to Health, Safety, and Environmental procedures, company safety rules, Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) always.
• Completes projects assigned by management, including: researching and understandingthe client brief (target product form, active surfactant/ingredient concentration, andperformance claims); formula writing while adhering to specific customer no-lists andretailer/store-specific requirements for where products are sold globally; daily batching oflaundry care (liquid detergents, fabric softeners), household cleaning (surface sprays, dishcare), and air freshening products (room sprays, diffuser oils, linen mists); and managingproduct reformulation in response to customer direction.
• Prepares paperwork (Sample Submission Sheet, CoA) and labels for submission.
• Acts as technical support as needed to customers, product development managers,process engineers, compounders, and the quality unit.
• Adjusts batches and validates specifications, as necessary.
• Knowledge of ingredient deck listing and INCI/chemical nomenclature for home care rawmaterials.
• Collaborates and supports process engineering, including scale-up from lab batch to pilotand production batches.
• Collects scientific data and communicates technical information to product developmentmanagers.
• Maintains accurate real-time formula entries, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Troubleshoots formulation and process issues.
• Flexible and willing to perform other duties as needed (filling lab batches into components,preparing Sample Submission Forms and labels).
• Oversees/supervises pilot and first three (if needed) production batches throughout themanufacturing process.
• Calibrates R&D lab equipment as needed.
• Assists R&D management with company audits or in preparation of audits.
• Collaborates closely with cross-functional leaders to build best practices and shareknowledge across the team to develop and execute our customer’s needs.
• Requests new raw material samples and gathers documentation.
• Attends cosmetic and home care industry seminars and meetings.
• Assists other lab personnel as needed.
• Performs other duties and assignments as instructed by R&D management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Capable of standing, walking, and sitting for extended periods.
• Capable of lifting 25 lbs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Organic Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry,or another related science is required.
• Minimum 5 years in a Chemist role in HI&I consumer products.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations relevant to global home care formulation.
• Formulation experience in developing laundry detergents (liquid, unit-dose), fabric care,household surface cleaners, dish care, and air freshening products (sprays, diffusers) is aplus, including natural/clean formulations, reverse engineering, and new product innovation.
• Good technical foundation of formulated products including surfactant systems, builders,enzymes, emulsions, and suspensions, and an understanding of material chemistry ispreferred.
• Strong computer knowledge is required.
• Demonstration of continual education — attends seminars or reads training materials forcontinuing education and shows initiative in learning industry trends.
• Flexibility to work long hours during peak season or special schedules as needed to satisfyjob requirements.
• Constantly works to improve processes and consistently reviews all existing procedures forpossible change; maintains and expands technical knowledge; makes suggestions forimprovements.
• Detail oriented, with the ability to multitask and follow through on project assignments.
• Communicates and collaborates with management.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Laboratory environment.
• Process manufacturing environment.
• Noise level is low to moderate.
• Proper lighting and ventilation.