Junior Development Chemist

Science Solutions Recruitment Ltd; West Yorkshire, Northampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - GBP 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in the UK is seeking a Graduate / Junior Development Chemist to join a technical team in product development. This role provides hands-on experience in formulation and testing, working closely with experienced chemists. Candidates should have a degree in Chemistry or a related field and some lab experience. Ideal for those wanting to build their skills early in their career, the position offers exposure to the full product lifecycle from lab to launch.

Benefits

Hands-on development experience

Mentoring from experienced chemists

Opportunity to build skills early in career

Qualifications

• Degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Some formulation or laboratory experience (industrial placement, graduate role, or similar).
• Strong attention to detail and good record-keeping skills.
• Proactive mindset with a willingness to learn and take ownership.
• Good communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Developing and improving chemical formulations in the lab.
• Carrying out product testing, stability trials, and performance assessments.
• Supporting new product launches, including technical documentation and QC standards.
• Assisting with scale-up from lab to production.
• Comparing products against competitors to improve performance and value.

Skills

Attention to detail

Good record-keeping skills

Proactive mindset

Good communication skills

Organisational skills

Confidence in lab environment

Education

Degree in Chemistry or related scientific discipline

Job description

Graduate / Junior Development Chemist - FMCG - Oxfordshire

Are you a recent chemistry graduate or early-career formulator looking to build hands‑on experience in product development? We're looking for a Development Chemist to join a technical team working on real‑world chemical products used in the cleaning and hygiene sector.

This role offers excellent exposure to formulation, testing, scale‑up, and product launch, working closely with experienced chemists and cross‑functional teams.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Developing and improving chemical formulations in the lab.
• Carrying out product testing, stability trials, and performance assessments.
• Supporting new product launches, including technical documentation and QC standards.
• Assisting with scale‑up from lab to production.
• Comparing products against competitors to improve performance and value.
• Working with suppliers, production, quality, and regulatory teams.
• Helping investigate and resolve batch or quality issues.
• Supporting technical enquiries and occasional field trials.

What We’re Looking For

• A degree in Chemistry or a related scientific discipline.
• Some formulation or laboratory experience (industrial placement, graduate role, or similar).
• Strong attention to detail and good record‑keeping skills.
• A proactive mindset with a willingness to learn and take ownership.
• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Confidence working in a lab environment and managing multiple tasks.

Nice to Have (But Not Essential)

• Knowledge of cleaning, household, or industrial chemical products.
• Awareness of chemical regulations (e.g. REACH, CLP).
• Experience with concentrated formulations or scale‑up.
• Customer‑facing or presentation experience.

Why Join?

• Hands‑on development experience with commercial products.
• Mentoring and support from experienced chemists.
• Exposure to the full product lifecycle - from lab to launch.
• A great opportunity to build skills and confidence early in your career.

To apply to this role please send your CV