Scientist, Personal Care Formulation (Cosmetic Science)

Location: Hybrid in Trumbull, Connecticut: three days per week onsite and two days remote. Candidates must be within commuting distance of the Unilever facilities in Trumbull and New Haven, CT. Travel to manufacturing sites, suppliers, trade shows, and in-person meetings is approximately 10–20%.

Annual base salary: $110,000–$130,000 USD, excluding bonuses, benefits, and other compensation.

Company

hirify.global develops clinically tested hair wellness products using vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients to address factors associated with hair thinning.

What you will do

• Design, benchmark, and optimize proprietary leave-on and rinse-off formulations for scalp and hair care.
• Select functional and active ingredient systems and translate product briefs into technically sound formulation strategies.
• Plan and conduct stability, compatibility, preservative efficacy, preclinical, consumer, and sensory evaluation programs.
• Analyze hair and scalp performance data, coordinate external laboratories and research organizations, and support claims substantiation.
• Partner with contract manufacturers on scale-up, pilot batches, first production, packaging compatibility, and full product lifecycle management.
• Build formulation infrastructure, maintain laboratory operations, and contribute to technical documentation and patent development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in cosmetic science, chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of hands-on cosmetic or personal care formulation experience, including prototype development, stability evaluation, and preclinical performance testing.
• Experience with surfactant systems, emulsions, and aqueous or hydroalcoholic formulations across shampoos, conditioners, creams, masks, serums, tonics, or sprays.
• Knowledge of hair and scalp product performance methods, functional and active ingredients, delivery systems, and formulation effects on product performance.
• Working knowledge of U.S. cosmetic regulations, including MoCRA, and ability to interpret analytical, microbiological, and stability data.
• Ability to work onsite in Trumbull, CT three days per week and commute to the Trumbull and New Haven facilities.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of hair and scalp biology, scalp microbiome, OTC or dermatological products, and claims substantiation.
• Experience with sulfate-free, silicone-free, naturally derived, clean beauty, or other constraint-driven formulations.
• Experience with formula costing and COGS optimization.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work structure with remote work days depending on business needs.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, including an FSA program, plus a 401(k) with employer match.
• Flexible PTO, quarterly bonus eligibility, wellness breaks, and a monthly wellness stipend.
• Internet, cell phone, and annual learning and development stipends.
• Free lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Headspace membership, hirify.global subscription, and pet insurance discounts.