Senior Chemist

SR Labs; Huntington Beach (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SR Labs in Huntington Beach is seeking an R&D Chemist to develop and optimize cosmetics from concept to commercialization. You will work with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Purchasing, and Sales to create innovative, stable, and cost-effective formulations.

You will perform bench-scale development, stability testing, and documentation, while ensuring FDA cosmetic regulations, GMP, ISO 22716, and batch production readiness. Strong collaboration and communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3+ years of formulation experience in cosmetic or personal care product development preferred.
• Experience formulating emulsions, surfactant systems, suspensions, gels, and anhydrous products.
• Knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, fragrances, and active ingredients.
• Familiarity with cosmetic manufacturing processes, scale-up, and batch production.
• Understanding of FDA cosmetic regulations, GMP, ISO 22716, and cosmetic labeling requirements.
• Experience conducting stability, compatibility, and performance testing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and laboratory documentation systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize formulations for personal care products, including creams, lotions, serums, gels, cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, OTC products, and cosmetic products.
• Conduct bench-scale formulation development, prototype preparation, and product evaluations.
• Perform stability, compatibility, viscosity, pH, preservative efficacy, and other performance testing to ensure product quality and shelf life.
• Evaluate and qualify new raw materials from suppliers for functionality, performance, and cost effectiveness.
• Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, address raw material changes, or meet customer specifications.
• Prepare detailed formulation documentation, manufacturing procedures, batch records, technical reports and formula costing.
• Support pilot batches and scale-up activities, ensuring successful transfer from laboratory to manufacturing.
• Troubleshoot formulation and production issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Production to ensure products comply with FDA cosmetic regulations, GMP, customer requirements, and company quality standards.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and documentation following Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
• Monitor industry trends, emerging ingredients, and new technologies to support innovation.
• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions as needed.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, inventory, and a safe, organized work environment.
• Follow all environmental, health, and safety policies.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Collaboration

Project management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related

Job description

The R&D Chemist is responsible for developing, reverse engineering, and improving personal care and cosmetic products from concept through commercialization. This role collaborates closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Purchasing, and Sales to develop innovative, stable, and cost-effective formulations that meet customer requirements, regulatory standards, and production capabilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize formulations for personal care products, including creams, lotions, serums, gels, cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, OTC Products, and cosmetic products.
• Conduct bench-scale formulation development, prototype preparation, and product evaluations.
• Perform stability, compatibility, viscosity, pH, preservative efficacy, and other performance testing to ensure product quality and shelf life.
• Evaluate and qualify new raw materials from suppliers for functionality, performance, and cost effectiveness.
• Modify existing formulations to improve performance, reduce cost, address raw material changes, or meet customer specifications.
• Prepare detailed formulation documentation, manufacturing procedures, batch records, technical reports and formula costing.
• Support pilot batches and scale-up activities, ensuring successful transfer from laboratory to manufacturing.
• Troubleshoot formulation and production issues and recommend corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Production to ensure products comply with FDA cosmetic regulations, GMP, customer requirements, and company quality standards.
• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks and documentation following Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
• Monitor industry trends, emerging ingredients, and new technologies to support innovation.
• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions as needed.
• Maintain laboratory equipment, inventory, and a safe, organized work environment.
• Follow all environmental, health, and safety policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3+ years of formulation experience in cosmetic or personal care product development preferred.
• Experience formulating emulsions, surfactant systems, suspensions, gels, and anhydrous products.
• Knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, preservatives, emulsifiers, rheology modifiers, fragrances, and active ingredients.
• Familiarity with cosmetic manufacturing processes, scale-up, and batch production.
• Understanding of FDA cosmetic regulations, GMP, ISO 22716, and cosmetic labeling requirements.
• Experience conducting stability, compatibility, and performance testing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and laboratory documentation systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a contract manufacturing (OEM/ODM) environment.
• Knowledge of OTC drug products, including sunscreen or acne formulations.
• Experience supporting customer-specific formulation projects.
• Familiarity with supplier qualification and raw material evaluations.
• Experience with project management and product commercialization.

Perform other duties assigned by director.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong formulation and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Effective communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to quality and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a team-oriented environment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods while working in the laboratory.
• Frequently lift and move materials weighing up to 15 pounds.
• Ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Manual dexterity to operate laboratory equipment and prepare formulations.

This position is based primarily in a laboratory within a cosmetic and personal care manufacturing facility. The role includes routine interaction with production, quality, and warehouse personnel and occasional exposure to manufacturing environments while supporting pilot and commercial production.