Sr. Scientist

Position Title:

Scientist or Senior Scientist – Product Development

Location:

Calabasas, California, USA (Hybrid 4 day on-site)

Reports to:

OPI R&D DIRECTOR

Scope / Brands: OPI

Together WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.

Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.

We are seeking a Scientist or Senior Scientist (depending on experience) to join our OPI R&D organization. This role will support end-to-end product development for nail products, translating consumer and professional insights into strong technical solutions and commercially successful innovations.

This is a hands‑on laboratory role, including batch formulation and performance testing. The individual will also build and deepen category expertise in nail products, supporting formula development, raw material screening, and establishing robust technical understanding to guide future innovation.

You will partner cross‑functionally with Marketing, Education, Insights, and external partners to define product requirements, develop formulation pathways, validate performance, and create compelling claims and demos for launch.

• Drive formulation development and optimization for nail products
• Perform hands‑on lab work including batch making, formulation screening, and product evaluation
• Deliver reliable, accurate and reproducible data
• Accurately perform formula entry in SAP R&D systems, ensuring complete, current, and traceable formula data
• Validate formulation performance through structured testing plans and scorecards

• Ensure on‑time technical readiness and quality delivery of projects in alignment with Stage‑Gate process
• Prepare technical documentation, including technical briefs, test plans, stability report, and claim substantiation
• Maintain accurate and organized laboratory records following Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)

• Conduct competitive landscape assessments and stay current with emerging technologies
• Identify opportunities for performance improvement and new product concepts
• Screen and evaluate new raw materials and formulation approaches to enable innovation
• Compile testing data to support product claim in claim substantiation document
• Develop effective product demos and storytelling for internal and external stakeholders

• Partner with Marketing, Education, Sensory, and Insights teams to support product launches
• Support strong working relationships with suppliers and TPMs

• Demonstrate strong laboratory discipline, data integrity, and organization
• Exhibit ownership, agility, and a collaborative mindset
• Contribute to a positive work environment aligned with Wella values

• BS in chemistry, materials science, polymer science or related science, MS is a plus.
• Previous formula & product development experience, in the beauty industry preferred.
• Passionate about nail category and able to generate product insights from online product reviews and focus group discussions.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to speak and demo product superiority to commercial teams.
• Process orientated working style.
• Hands on individual, GLP and organizational skills
• Team player and exhibit “can do” attitude, responding effectively to multiple demands.
• Able to work in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience in nail or color cosmetic formulas.
• Co-development experience with third party manufacturer or external research labs.

We disclose the compensation range for positions in compliance with local law. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not…