R&D Scientist Job

The R&D Scientist develops and optimizes cosmetic and OTC product formulations from concept through commercial production. The position combines bench formulation, stability and analytical evaluation, OTC/cGMP documentation, raw-material assessment, scale-up support, and structured process improvement in collaboration with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Procurement, and customer-facing teams.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop, modify, and optimize formulations for skincare, color cosmetics, suncare, hair care, body care, personal care, and applicable OTC products.
• Translate customer and marketing briefs into prototypes by selecting appropriate actives, emulsifiers, surfactants, rheology modifiers, preservatives, and sensory-enhancing ingredients.
• Design and evaluate stability, compatibility, preservative-efficacy, microbiological, physical, and analytical testing; interpret results and reformulate as needed.
• Support OTC monograph alignment, active-ingredient controls, Drug Facts and claims documentation, cGMP batch records, in-process controls, and product specifications in coordination with Regulatory Affairs and Quality.
• Scale formulas from laboratory bench to pilot and full production; prepare manufacturing instructions and troubleshoot process, equipment, yield, viscosity, color, stability, and filling issues.
• Evaluate raw materials and supplier technical documentation, including technical data sheets, COAs, safety information, INCI nomenclature, and ingredient restrictions.
• Investigate complaints, stability failures, out-of-specification results, and quality deviations, and recommend technically supported corrective or preventive actions.
• Use and improve Physical AI-enabled tools and the company’s PMS Process to strengthen experimentation, data capture, formulation iteration, technical knowledge retention, and development speed.
• Maintain accurate formulas, laboratory notebooks, batch sheets, specifications, SOPs, test summaries, and technical transfer records in accordance with GLP and internal documentation standards.

Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Science, or Cosmetic Science.
• At least two (2) years of full-time professional experience in the medical, pharmaceutical, or cosmetics sector involving regulated documentation, compliance coordination, technical operations, laboratory/R&D support, or product-development support.
• Working knowledge of cosmetic or OTC formulation principles, stability and compatibility evaluation, preservation, and controlled technical documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
• Hands-on experience with emulsions, surfactant systems, rheology modification, preservatives, pH/viscosity testing, particle-size evaluation, or cosmetic product scale-up.
• Familiarity with FDA OTC monographs or Monograph Orders, Drug Facts requirements, cGMP documentation, MoCRA, INCI nomenclature, or global cosmetic ingredient requirements.
• Experience with laboratory instrumentation, structured experimental data systems, AI-enabled development tools, or formulation knowledge-management processes.
• Ability to interpret technical data sheets, certificates of analysis, safety documentation, specifications, and laboratory or analytical results.
• Strong data-analysis, technical-writing, organization, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Korean- English bilingual

Health/Dental Benefits

CTK OTC Laboratories is a Corona in Southern California-based contract development and manufacturing company specializing in customized skincare, color cosmetics, suncare, personal care, and OTC products.