Sr. Chemist, rhode

Elfbeauty; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Gender-neutral parental leave

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. is seeking a Senior Research & Development Chemist to lead formulation projects for personal care products. You will work with Product Development and cross‑functional teams to develop innovative formulas, manage documentation, and supervise scale-up at contract manufacturers.

The role requires a chemistry/chemical engineering background, 5+ years in cosmetics formulation, and strong GMP knowledge. Santa Monica lab work is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Science in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years’ experience as a bench/formulation chemist in personal care formulation.
• Experience using mixers, homogenizers, viscometers, and pH meters.
• Knowledge of raw materials, GMP, and formulation data entry (CAS, INCI, cost).
• Experience maintaining formulation software/database and MS Office/Google Workspace.
• Able to manage multiple priority projects in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Willing to travel to contract manufacturers and supervise scale-up batches.

Responsibilities

• Independently work on formulation projects based on product briefs.
• Make batches of formulations and revisions.
• Log and maintain records of formulations and tests.
• Prepare samples for submission to testing labs.
• Supervise scale-up batches at Contract Manufacturers and provide guidance.

Skills

Formulation experience

Strong communication

Analytical thinking

Agile

Detail oriented

Education

BSc in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Mixers

Homogenizers

Viscometers

pH meters

Formulation software / database

MS Office / Google Workspace

Job description

About the Company

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face, paw and fin. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi‑brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, Well People – clean beauty powered by plants, Naturium – high‑performance, biocompatible, clinically‑effective and accessible skin care, and our newest brand, rhode skin – developed by Hailey Rhode Bieber, a line of curated skincare essentials, formulated for a variety of skin types and needs with high performance ingredients, it’s a daily routine that nourishes your skin barrier over time.

Position

rhode is seeking a Senior Research & Development Chemist, who is well versed in formulating personal care products, to join the team and play an integral role in formulating innovative products for our business. Reporting to the Director of Research and Development, you will be responsible for research, formulation, and managing cross‑functional team projects.

Responsibilities

• Independently work on formulation projects based on product briefs provided by Product Development team
• Make batches of formulation projects
• Create formula revisions based on feedback from testing team
• Adjust batches as needed to meet formula specification requirements
• Maintain clear and accurate records of formulations, procedures, observations and results
• Prepare and log samples for submission
• Calculate appropriate specification ranges and create CoFAs for formulas
• Conduct stability testing and keep accurate records
• Order raw material samples and maintain raw material storage room
• Request raw material documentation from vendors and maintain documents organized in shared folder
• Maintain formulation software
• Prepare bulk to be sent out to third‑party testing laboratories as needed
• Validate other chemist’s formulas
• Contribute to routine laboratory housekeeping and day‑to‑day operations of the laboratory
• Calibrate lab equipment
• Supervise scale‑up batches at Contract Manufacturers, providing instructions and recommendations as needed
• Communicate with Product Development, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams as needed
• Assist other lab staff as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Science in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or equivalent
• 5+ years’ experience working as a formulation/bench chemist in a personal care formulation laboratory. Experience formulating OTC products – nice to have.
• Must have experience using mixers, homogenizers, viscometers, and pH meters
• Strong knowledge of the following:
  • Functionality of raw materials used in personal care formulations
  • Ingredient listing
  • Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
  • Experience maintaining a formulation software or database required (formula breakdown and entry of raw materials, including CAS, INCI, and cost information)
  • Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel etc.) or Google Workspace
  • Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to independently manage multiple priority projects
  • Must be a critical thinker and have strong problem‑solving skills
  • Agile and comfortable working in fast paced environment
  • Must have strong communication skills and ability to explain technical information to a non‑technical audience
  • Willing to travel to contract manufacturer sites and supervise scale‑up batches as needed

Location & Availability

Position is located: Santa Monica, CA

Office requirement: 5 days in our Lab in Santa Monica

Compensation

Budgeted Salary Range: 105K–140K

The base salary range for this role is listed above.

Total compensation includes base salary, annual company‑based performance bonus, and equity. Under e.l.f.’s annual bonus program, employees are eligible to earn up to 200% of their target bonus when company performance exceeds defined goals. Compensation components are subject to change at the company’s discretion.

Benefits

In addition, e.l.f. provides a variety of other benefits to employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan, gender‑neutral parental leave, and unlimited paid time off.

Legal Notice

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisor’s discretion.