Principal R&D Scientist
Role: Principal R&D Scientist
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $150,000-$180,000
A leading innovator in home care products is seeking a Principal R&D Scientist to lead scale-up and process development initiatives for its expanding product portfolio. This is a strategic, principal-level role based in New York, NY, with relocation assistance for the right candidate.
The Senior R&D Process Engineer will be responsible for:
- Leading process development and scale-up of personal care formulations including hand soaps, surface cleaners, and laundry detergents.
- Translating lab-scale formulations into robust, scaleable manufacturing processes across internal and external production sites.
- Designing and optimizing pilot trials, equipment specifications, and process parameters to ensure product consistency and quality.
- Collaborating with formulation scientists, packaging engineers, and contract manufacturers to ensure seamless commercialization throughout scale up.
- Troubleshooting complex process challenges and implementing continuous improvement strategies.
- Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to long-term technical capability development.
Ideal candidates will have:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science.
- 10+ years of experience in home care product development, or related field, with a strong focus on formulation and scale-up.
- 7+ years of hands-on experience with surfactants, emulsions, and chelants
- Proven success in launching products from bench to commercial scale in regulated environments.
- Experience working with co-manufacturers and pilot plant operations.
- Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Willingness to travel up to 20% for trials, audits, and supplier visits.
Why work here:
- Lead technical strategy in a mission-driven company
- High-impact role with visibility across R&D, operations, and leadership
- 401k Match, dental, vision, annual bonus
- Relocation assistance for qualified candidates
If you're interested in this role please apply below now!
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.