Senior Chemist I, NYX Makeup Formulation Open Development, L'Oréal Research & Innovation - El Segundo, CA

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L’Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L’Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 4,100 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people’s lives.

As a Makeup Development Open Development Senior Chemist I for NYX, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that’s redefining beauty innovation located at our El Segundo, California L’Oreal West Coast Headquarters. Reporting to the Makeup Development Manager for NYX, you’ll have the opportunity to work on exciting R&D projects across various makeup categories—Face, Eye, and Lip—depending on the pipeline, while working closely with external manufacturers to develop and refine formulas. This role offers a chance to contribute to cutting-edge product development while building strong international collaboration across different functions.

A Day in the Life: As a Senior Chemist I in the NYX Makeup Development team, your primary responsibilities will include:

• Innovative Product Development:
  • Work closely with designated vendors to develop and refine formulas for makeup products, ensuring they meet performance, safety, and quality standards.
  • Stay updated on scientific literature, raw materials, and market trends to drive innovation.
  • Identify raw materials and technologies suitable for product development concepts from either in house or vendors.
• Project Management & Problem Solving:
  • Manage multiple projects with defined objectives and deadlines, ensuring timely delivery for product launches.
  • Anticipate and resolve challenges during development, including scale-up or manufacturing stages, offering creative solutions.
  • Proactively alert management to potential issues and propose innovative, actionable solutions to ensure project success.
  • Provide mentorship and training to Vendors and support groups
  • Review concepts, formulas, artwork and documentation for technical accuracy and issue documentation for existing and new products.
• Collaboration & Compliance:
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams within R&D, including Safety, Regulatory, and Microbiology, to ensure compliance and approvals while working with the vendor to assure robust formulations to these standards as well as target claims.
  • Work closely with Marketing to align product expectations and share progress.
  • Partner with Operations to manage timelines and ensure smooth transitions from lab to production.
  • Review concepts, formulas, artwork and documentation for technical accuracy
  • Maintain a strong relationship with vendors to ensure product quality in a timely fashion
• Quality & Scale-Up Support:
  • Perform product stability tests and address any issues.
  • Ensure quality throughout the scale-up process by ensuring the vendor is anticipating challenges, and creating a test plan resolve them from a technical standpoint
  • Maintain accurate records and follow quality procedures to ensure excellence.

We Are Looking For: A creative problem-solver with a passion for makeup innovation, in addition to:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or related sciences is required. A Master’s Degree in these fields is a plus.
• Experience & Technical Acumen:
  • 3-5+ years of cosmetic makeup formulation development or related experience in a different industry is required
  • Experience in regulatory, claims, product development is a huge plus.
  • Must have a strong cosmetics formulation background in all categories, especially makeup: lipstick, foundations, eye makeup, hot pours, emulsions and suspension
  • Effective communication skills to work with experts and non-experts alike, both orally and in writing
• Skills:
  • Formulation Expertise
  • Project Management
  • Problem Solving
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Scientific Rigor
• Attributes:
  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with both technical and non-technical partners.
  • Good problem-solving and decision-making skills. Displays a sense of urgency and initiative with creativity and flexibility.
  • Solution oriented and can demonstrate creativity and resourcefulness in proactively identifying and proposing solutions
  • Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple projects simultaneously, while prioritizing deadlines
  • Must be willing to apply and wear makeup.
  • Creative and self-motivated. Be able to think "out of the box" and willing to take an extra step to get the job done.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• The ability to be onsite, in the office as this is an essential function of the position (required)
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis without the need for legal sponsorship now or in the future (required)

What’s In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you’ll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there’s no sitting on the sidelines at L’Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal /environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Base Salary Range: $77,400 - $110,300 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level) 
• Hybrid Work Policy (3 days in Office, up to 2 days Work From Home)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don’t meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We’re committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual’s gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.