Cosmetics Formulation Jobs in Philadelphia, PA (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Formulations Chemist / R&D Development Chemist

Job Description

This role leads the development and reformulation of innovative personal care, oral care, cosmetic, OTC, and medical device products across skin, body, hair, and oral care categories. You will create new formulation concepts and prototypes to meet customer briefs, support proactive pitches to new customers, and ensure products move efficiently from concept to commercialization. The position is highly hands-on in the laboratory and requires strong communication skills to collaborate effectively within a growing, team-oriented R&D environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute new formulations for personal care, oral care, and OTC drug products, ensuring timely commercialization and alignment with customer requirements.
• Create, refine, and reformulate products across skin, body, hair, and oral care categories to meet designated briefs and support proactive concept pitches.
• Identify and evaluate raw materials and technologies suitable for product development, ensuring they meet performance, quality, and regulatory expectations.
• Set up, run, and document laboratory experiments using specific instrumentation to analyze samples and generate reliable data.
• Compound laboratory batches and perform stability testing according to standard operating procedures and customer protocols.
• Manage and conduct stability studies, monitor results, and help resolve stability issues by adjusting formulations and processes as needed.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment and instrumentation to ensure accurate and consistent testing.
• Develop and refine formulas based on customer feedback and internal evaluations, ensuring product quality, performance, and consistency.
• Enter testing data accurately and use company-specific software programs to document results and maintain records.
• Assist with lab-specific programs, including managing raw material inventory and maintaining a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment.
• Monitor the quality and conformity of formulas to ensure they meet internal standards and customer expectations.
• Ensure traceability and accuracy of all lab trials through thorough documentation in laboratory notebooks and related systems.
• Communicate formulation and stability issues clearly and promptly to leadership, providing data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Contribute to the development of a new and growing R&D team by sharing knowledge, collaborating with colleagues, and supporting a dynamic, innovation-focused culture.

Essential Skills

• 3-5 years of hands-on product development experience in a laboratory setting.
• Proficiency in formulation chemistry, including developing and reformulating products in personal care, oral care, cosmetic, OTC, or medical device categories.
• Experience compounding laboratory batches and performing stability testing in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Ability to design, implement, and interpret laboratory experiments, including setting up and running tests with specific instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of raw material selection and the ability to identify technologies suitable for product development.
• Capability to monitor the quality and conformity of formulas and ensure consistency throughout development.
• Strong documentation skills, including maintaining accurate, traceable records in laboratory notebooks and data systems.
• Proven ability to invent and innovate, with a strong aptitude for experimental design and problem-solving.
• Effective communication skills to clearly report formulation and stability findings and collaborate within a team environment.
• Comfort using company-specific software programs to enter and manage testing data.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in oral care formulation, such as toothpaste or mouthwash, preferred but not required.
• Experience with OTC products and medical devices, preferred but not required.
• Color matching experience for personal care formulations, preferred but not required.
• Background in Research & Development, particularly in chemistry, formulation, and product development environments.
• Familiarity with stability study design, execution, and interpretation.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing multiple projects and lab activities in parallel.
• Ability to work proactively in a dynamic, growing team and contribute to building new processes and capabilities.

Work Environment

This position is based in a laboratory environment at a growing R&D site where a new team is being built. You will work primarily in a hands-on lab setting, compounding batches, running experiments, and operating specialized instrumentation. The role involves regular use of laboratory equipment that requires proper setup, calibration, and maintenance, as well as adherence to standard operating procedures and safety practices. The environment emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and teamwork, offering the opportunity to help shape a dynamic R&D function and contribute to new product pipelines from the ground up.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Mainland, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $80000.00/yr.

Aetna Medical, dental and vision - 401K with match and pet insurance PTO (negotiable at this level) plus company paid holidays. Detailed benefits brochure can be provided.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Mainland,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.