Senior Formulation Chemist Cosmetics

Bayport Laboratories; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

A cosmetics manufacturing company located in Houston, Texas, is seeking a Senior Formulation Chemist to develop and optimize innovative cosmetic products, primarily in color cosmetics, skin care, and hair care. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's or Master's in Chemistry or related fields with at least 5 years of experience in formulating cosmetics. Responsibilities include formulating new products, conducting tests, and mentoring lab technicians. This role promotes adherence to regulatory standards and supports a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Cosmetic Science.
• Expertise in cosmetic formulation principles, particularly for color cosmetics.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience formulating color cosmetics from concept to launch.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and reformulate cosmetic products, ensuring quality and compliance.
• Lead color matching, shade development, and innovative product concepts.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to laboratory technicians.

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

POSITION PURPOSE

The Senior Formulation Chemist at Bayport Laboratories develops and optimizes innovative cosmetic products, focusing on color cosmetics, skin care, and hair care. This role formulates new products from concept, refines existing formulations, performs testing and analysis, and provides technical guidance and mentorship to laboratory technicians. The Senior Chemist works closely with and reports to the R&D Lab Manager to ensure project milestones, quality standards, and compliance with cGMP and the company’s Quality System are met.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Formulate and reformulate cosmetic products, including color cosmetics, skincare, and hair care, from concept to production-ready formulas.
• Optimize existing formulations for performance, stability, texture, and color payoff.
• Conduct stability, compatibility, and performance testing in accordance with established protocols.
• Lead color matching, shade development, and innovative product concepts using advanced formulation technologies.
• Operate, maintain, and perform calibration checks on laboratory instruments.
• Mentor and provide day-to-day technical guidance to laboratory technicians, ensuring proper procedures and high-quality results.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, regulatory, and QA/QC, to support product documentation, ingredient selection, and formula proposals.
• Maintain accurate records of active R&D projects, formulation trials, and laboratory results.
• Support customer programs by tracking progress, reviewing specifications, and ensuring project milestones are met.
• Assist the R&D Lab Manager in scaling laboratory formulations to pilot or production batches, troubleshooting issues, and validating processes.
• Uphold strict adherence to cGMP and ISO 22716 standards, maintaining accurate laboratory documentation and ensuring compliance.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized laboratory environment in line with company and regulatory guidelines.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence within the lab team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education / Certification: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Cosmetic Science. Additional certifications in cosmetic formulation or regulatory compliance are a plus.
• Required Knowledge: Expertise in cosmetic formulation principles, particularly for color cosmetics (lipsticks, foundations, powders, eyeshadows). Familiarity with formulation of skincare and hair care products (creams, serums, shampoos, conditioners). Strong understanding of raw materials, pigments, emollients, surfactants, preservatives, and active ingredients. Knowledge of regulatory standards and safety requirements, including cGMP, FDA regulations, ISO 22716 (2007), and global cosmetic guidelines. Understanding of stability, compatibility, and performance testing for cosmetic products.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience formulating color cosmetics from concept to launch. Proven experience in developing new formulas from scratch, including selecting ingredients, defining texture, color payoff, and performance characteristics. Experience in troubleshooting and optimizing existing formulations to improve stability, performance, or cost efficiency. Track record of collaboration with cross-functional teams (marketing, packaging, QA/QC, regulatory) to deliver innovative products.
• Skills & Abilities: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify formulation issues and implement solutions efficiently. Ability to lead and mentor formulation teams, guiding less experienced chemists through complex projects. Excellent project management skills with the ability to handle multiple product development timelines simultaneously. Strong communication skills, able to present technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Creativity and innovation mindset to develop cutting-edge products that meet market trends and consumer expectations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.