Chemist I

Job Title: Chemist I
Location: Clark, NJ (Onsite – 5 days/week)
Duration: 6 Months
Shift: Standard Shift
Pay Rate: $23-25/hr

Job Description

We are seeking a Chemist I with hands-on experience in cosmetic characterization or related fields such as personal care, food science, chemical product evaluation, pharmaceutical, or quality control environments. The ideal candidate will have experience performing stability studies and physicochemical testing across various product formats.

The candidate should be detail-oriented, comfortable working with laboratory instruments, and able to accurately document and analyze test results while following established procedures and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform physicochemical characterization of cosmetic and personal care products following defined protocols and quality criteria.
• Conduct laboratory testing including:
• • pH measurements
  • Viscosity and rheology testing
  • Microscopy analysis
  • Appearance, color, gloss, and texture evaluations
  • Foam performance testing
• Execute stability studies including:
• • Temperature cycling
  • Centrifugation
  • Freeze-thaw testing
  • Long-term stability monitoring
• Maintain accurate documentation, sample traceability, and data records.
• Update stability databases and identify/report product trends or anomalies.
• Prepare technical reports, summaries, and characterization documentation.
• Support process improvements related to testing workflows, data management, and instrument utilization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science, or related field with 2+ years of laboratory experience.
• Experience working in a laboratory environment with strong technical research or quality testing exposure.
• Strong understanding of scientific principles, data analysis, and laboratory documentation.
• Ability to follow SOPs, maintain accurate records, and work independently.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Technical Skills

• Experience with cosmetic/personal care product characterization.
• pH meter calibration, sampling techniques, and measurement accuracy.
• Viscometer/rheometer operation and rheology analysis.
• Microscopy techniques for emulsions, particle size, and product structure evaluation.
• Stability testing and quality evaluation of finished products.

Software Skills

• Microsoft Excel: Data entry, formulas, charts, stability tracking, and data analysis.
• Microsoft Word: SOPs, protocols, and technical documentation.
• Microsoft PowerPoint: Creating reports and technical presentations.
• Microsoft Outlook and Teams.
• Comfortable using Windows-based laboratory data systems.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Detail-oriented with strong focus on data accuracy.
• Clear communicator with strong documentation skills.
• Comfortable learning new laboratory techniques and instruments.
• Able to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
• Demonstrates a continuous improvement mindset.