Job Description

Chemtek, a family-owned business with a strong track record of innovation and market changing products in the Industrial Maintenance Chemical business is looking for an experienced Manufacturing Chemist with a strong background in formulation and product development to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for new product formulation, product testing, quality control, and research & development of industrial cleaning products (I&I cleaners and degreasers).
You will play a key part in developing innovative cleaning solutions while ensuring existing products maintain the highest standards of quality and performance. The ideal candidate has at least a Master's degree in Chemistry (or a related field) and 5-10 years of experience in a formulation manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of taking chemical products from concept through production. This is a great opportunity for someone to help drive our next stage of product development and product improvement.
We're a close-knit team that values accuracy, teamwork, and follow-through. If you're organized, proactive, and ready to take ownership of our product development, we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities

• Formulation Development: Develop and optimize new product formulations for industrial cleaners and degreasers, ensuring that new formulas meet targeted performance, physical stability, and safety requirements. This includes reformulating or improving existing cleaning products as needed to enhance efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

• Product Testing & Evaluation: Conduct laboratory testing and performance evaluations on formulations to verify cleaning efficacy (e.g. soil removal, foaming, residue analysis) and ensure products meet all quality specifications. Analyze test data to refine formulas and achieve desired product characteristics and compliance with industry standards.

• Manufacturing Scale-Up Support: Provide technical support during scale-up from lab to manufacturing, working closely with plant production staff to transition formulations to full-scale production. Troubleshoot any production issues related to formulation stability, separation, or other quality deviations, and implement adjustments to ensure consistent batch manufacturing.

• Quality Control & Assurance: Oversee and support quality control activities for both raw materials and finished products. Analyze stability data and conduct root-cause investigations for any non-conformances, such as customer complaints or out-of-specification (OOS) results, to maintain high product quality. Ensure that formulations and processes adhere to internal quality standards and Good Laboratory/Manufacturing Practices.

• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain detailed documentation for all formulation work, including laboratory notebooks, batch records, specifications, and test results. Prepare and update technical documents such as Safety Data Sheets (SDS), product labels, and formulation protocols to ensure compliance with safety and labeling regulations for cleaning chemical products. Rigorously enforce safety protocols when handling chemicals and conducting experiments.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Stay abreast of industry trends, new raw materials, and emerging technologies in the cleaning chemicals sector. Evaluate competitor products to ensure our company's offerings remain competitive, and identify opportunities for new product development or improvement. Propose and implement R&D process improvements to accelerate time-to-market for new formulations and to reduce costs without compromising quality.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree (M.S.) or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field is required. (A Ph.D. is a plus, but a strong M.S. with relevant experience is ideal.)

• Experience: 5-10 years of hands-on experience in formulation chemistry or product development in a manufacturing environment is required, preferably in industrial or specialty chemicals. Candidates should have a proven record of developing chemical products (such as cleaners, detergents, coatings, or similar) from concept through scale-up. Experience in the I&I cleaning chemicals sector or a closely related industry is highly valued.

• Formulation Expertise: Strong expertise in formulation of chemical products, particularly cleaners and degreasers. Deep knowledge of surfactants, solvents, emulsifiers, pH adjusters, corrosion inhibitors, and other ingredients used in cleaning formulations is essential. The candidate should understand how to evaluate and optimize these components for performance, stability, and safety.

• Scale-Up & Process Knowledge: Experience transitioning formulations from the lab bench to full-scale production is required. Familiarity with manufacturing processes, mixing equipment, and process optimization for chemical products is important. The candidate should be comfortable working in a plant/lab environment and troubleshooting production batches as needed.

• Quality & Regulatory: Demonstrated knowledge of quality control practices and regulatory compliance in chemical manufacturing. This includes understanding of safety standards, handling of hazardous materials, and preparation of documentation like Safety Data Sheets and product labels in line with regulatory requirements. Experience ensuring products meet environmental and industry regulations (EPA, OSHA, etc.) for cleaning chemicals is a plus.

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving ability, with the skill to design experiments and solve technical problems related to formulations and manufacturing processes. The ideal candidate can methodically investigate issues (e.g. a formula instability or performance shortfall) and implement effective solutions.

• Adaptability: A proactive mindset with enthusiasm for innovation in chemical formulation. The candidate should be self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain a high standard of accuracy and safety in a fast-paced development environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary with Bonus Opportunitites
• Top-tier benefits, including:

• QESHRA Medical Insurance for employees and families
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Paid vacation, PTO and Sick Leave
• All Holidays plus 8 additioanl days off at Christmas
• Relocation Assistance

If you're ready to contribute to a growing company where your attention to detail and relationship-building skills will make a real impact, apply today to join the Chemtek team!

Skills Required