Senior Research & Development Specialist, Formations

Explore RH; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

RH in Torrance, CA is seeking a Senior R&D Specialist to drive material innovation and safeguard our historical aesthetic. You will work primarily at the Formations Manufacturing facility, collaborating with Formations Co-Founders and senior designers to translate centuries-old design precedents into scalable luxury collections.

The ideal candidate has deep knowledge of 18th and 19th century design movements, at least seven years in product development or engineering within luxury furniture, and

Qualifications

• 7 years of experience in product development, R&D or engineering within luxury furniture, antiques or architectural industries.
• Deep, authoritative knowledge of 18th and 19th century design movements and materials.
• Ability to distinguish hand-applied finishes from modern machine finishes.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills with budget/timeline discipline.

Responsibilities

• Translate design visions into scalable luxury collections.
• Develop material specification sheets for new collections.
• Oversee weathering tests and validate structural performance.
• Review physical samples and provide precise feedback on patinas and textures.
• Collaborate with shop foremen to align materials with proprietary paints, waxes and patinas.
• Audit production lines to preserve traditional textures, joinery and hand-applied character.
• Track development timelines, milestones, and first-pass quality to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Luxury furniture experience

18th/19th century design knowledge

Finish identification (hand vs machine

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Budget/timeline management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Materials Science / related field

Job description

RH is seeking a dedicated and innovation-focused Senior Research & Development (R&D) Specialist to drive material innovation while serving as the ultimate guardian of our historical aesthetic. Based primarily out of our Formations Manufacturing facility in Torrance, CA, this position reports directly to the Formations General Manager and Chief Operating Officer (COO), while offering a rare opportunity to work directly with legendary interior designers and Formations Co-Founders, Richard Hallberg and Dan Cuevas.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Live and model Our Vision, Values and Beliefs every day.
• Partner directly with Formations Co-Founders to execute their creative vision, translating centuries-old design precedents into scalable luxury collections
• Research 18th and 19th century museum pieces to develop comprehensive material specification sheets for new collections
• Oversee weathering tests for outdoor stone and iron components to validate structural performance across modern climate conditions
• Review and approve physical samples of hardware, mirror glass and wood carvings, providing precise feedback on period-correct proportions, textures and patinas
• Collaborate daily with the Finishing Shop Foreman to confirm raw materials align with proprietary paints, waxes and patinas
• Troubleshoot technical defects, including wood warping and natural stone variation, to uphold luxury quality standards
• Audit active production lines to preserve traditional textures, joinery and hand-applied character
• Coordinate between the Torrance production floor and creative meetings in West Hollywood, keeping design and manufacturing aligned
• Keep the Formations General Manager and Chief Operating Officer informed on project timelines, resource needs, manufacturing feasibility and budget parameters
• Track product development cycle time, milestone completion and first-pass quality yield to drive continuous improvement across R&D initiatives
• Lead material testing compliance for newly developed outdoor composites, ensuring full execution of structural and weathering protocols

WHAT YOU BRING

• 7 years of experience in product development, R&D or engineering within luxury furniture, antiques or architectural industries
• Deep, authoritative knowledge of 18th and 19th century design movements, including Georgian, Regency and Louis XVI, and their period-specific materials
• Exceptional visual acuity, with the skill to distinguish instantly between a modern machine finish and a hand-applied 19th century finish
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science, Furniture Design, Wood Science and Technology, Architecture, Art History or a related technical field is preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills with natural ease interfacing with executive designers, operational leaders, master artisans and shop foremen
• Sophisticated project management skills with precision in budget tracking, timeline adherence and quality control

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Based primarily onsite at the Formations manufacturing facility in Torrance, California, with periodic travel to West Hollywood
• Extended periods on the production floor, including close visual inspection of materials, samples and finished components
• Frequent movement throughout the manufacturing facility to audit production lines and partner with shop leadership