Senior Chemist

Sun Bum; Encinitas (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sun Bum in Encinitas, California is seeking a Senior Chemist to drive innovation from concept to commercialization and post-launch analysis. This role collaborates with internal and external teams to bring high‑performing skincare, haircare, body care, and SPF products to market.

You will coordinate across departments, source contract R&D and manufacturers, and maintain supplier relationships to ensure successful launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or related fields (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering).
• 2–3 years of laboratory/R&D experience.
• Experience formulating with globally compliant sunscreen APIs.
• Experience formulating consumer goods, preferably personal care, and OTCs.
• Demonstrated launching world class products.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; proficient in MS Office.
• Strong teamwork skills.
• Familiar with Coptis and ASANA.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with related departments to develop and launch new or reformulated products.
• Source and qualify Contract R&D and manufacturers for each launch.
• Maintain relationships with key manufacturers and raw material suppliers.
• Conduct periodic research on unique raw materials and inform R&D/Marketing teams.
• Develop, reformulate, and optimize skincare, haircare, body care, and SPF formulations through bench work.
• Evaluate product stability and troubleshoot formulation challenges.
• Maintain lab documentation and batching records for scale up.
• Keep up with industry trends via trade shows and webinars.
• Maintain master formulation Coptis software, dossiers, air tables and tech packs.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree in science

2–3 years laboratory/R&D experience

Formulating with sunscreen APIs

Formulating consumer goods/personal &/

Product launch experience

Excellent written and verbal comms.

MS Office proficiency

Strong teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science or related fields

Tools

Coptis

ASANA

Job description

In 2010 we started making products to protect our friends and families from the sun. Since then, we’ve grown a bit, but we haven’t changed. Our Cocoa Beach office is an old Florida beach house off A1A. Our Moonlight Beach office is in the groovy little town of Encinitas, California, just a block away from the sand. And like any good beach day, everyone’s welcomed to the bonfire. We care about our people and making more meaningful connections outside. We make products the way we like them, and we hope you like them too.

Summary:

The Senior Chemist helps to deliver advancements in innovation from concept to commercialization and post launch analysis. This person works directly with internal and external resources to bring innovative, quality, and high performing products to market.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Help coordinate with all relative departments (Operational, IQR/R&D, Creative, Marketing) involved to develop and launch new and reformulated products.


• Help source and qualify Contract R&D and manufacturers appropriate for each product launch or reformulation.


• Help maintain relationships with key manufacturers and raw material suppliers.


• Conduct periodic research on unique raw materials and information and provide to R&D, New Product Development & Marketing teams.


• Develop, reformulate, and optimize skincare, haircare, body care, and SPF formulations through hands‑on bench work, batching, and prototype development.


• Evaluate product stability, compatibility as it applies to R&D while troubleshooting formulation challenges


• Maintaining detailed lab documentation and batching records for the purpose of scale up.


• Utilize industry resources, attend relevant trade shows and webinars to keep abreast of industry trends and opportunities in new product development and formulation innovations.


• Help maintain company master formulation Coptis software, dossiers, air tables and tech packs and keep current with all changes to formulations.

Required Skills / Experience / Competencies:

• Bachelor’s degree in science or related fields (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Engineering)


• Minimum 2-3 years’ laboratory/R&D experience


• Experience in formulating with globally complaint sunscreen APIs.


• Experience in formulating consumer goods, preferably personal care, and OTC’s


• Demonstrated launching world class products


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills


• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint


• Strong teamwork skills

Preferred Skills / Experience / Competencies:

• Worked and is familiar with Coptis, ASANA

Job Requirements:

• Full Time


• Up to 10% of overnight travel


• $76,00-$99,750 is the salary range for this position. It represents a portion of the overall package, and includes flexibility based on the candidate's qualifications.

Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned

at any time with or without notice as assigned by the Manager. The job description

does not constitute a contract of employment and the position remains at-will.