Local Candidates Only | No Agency Referrals | No Visa Sponsorship | No Relocation

Product Development Scientist

Lief Labs | Valencia, California | Product Development | Exempt

Lief Labs is a premier formulation, product development, and manufacturing partner for leading dietary supplement brands. Our world-class R&D and Product Development teams create innovative, great-tasting formulations, while our state-of-the-art cGMP manufacturing facility delivers scalable, turnkey solutions that help entrepreneurial companies build and grow successful brands.

The Opportunity

Turn science into products people can trust. Lief Labs is seeking a Product Development Scientist to lead formulation work from concept through commercialization. In this individual-contributor role, you will combine formulation expertise, scientific judgment, and cross-functional collaboration to create innovative dietary supplement capsules and powders that meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and manufacturing capabilities.

You will thrive here if you enjoy translating customer needs and scientific research into practical, high-quality products. Working closely with R&D, Project Management, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Operations, and suppliers, you will help move ideas forward while keeping technical documentation accurate, practical, and current.

What You’ll Do

• Develop new dietary supplement capsule and powder formulations based on customer requirements, market trends, and scientific research.
• Evaluate ingredients for functionality, compatibility, stability, manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Improve existing products for stronger performance, quality, manufacturability, or cost.
• Create and maintain Supplement Facts Panels, finished-product and raw-material specifications, and new raw-material codes.
• Partner across Sales, Project Management, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Supply Chain, Customer Operations, and suppliers throughout development.
• Support ingredient qualification, product claims, supplier documentation, and third-party certification programs, including Organic, Halal, Kosher, NSF Certified for Sport®, and Informed Sport.
• Conduct preliminary formula and label reviews, surface potential concerns, and escalate complex regulatory questions to Regulatory Affairs leadership.
• Maintain accurate controlled records and improve department procedures, work instructions, and resource tools.
• Stay current on emerging ingredients, industry trends, and formulation technologies.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nutrition, or a related scientific discipline.
• At least three years of product-development experience in dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, food products, or pharmaceuticals.
• Working knowledge of dietary supplement ingredients, excipients, formulation principles, labeling, Supplement Facts Panels, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Understanding of FDA dietary supplement regulations, DSHEA, and 21 CFR Part 111 GMP requirements.
• Strong analytical problem-solving, organization, attention to detail, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, collaborate across functions, and bring a self-motivated, continuous-improvement mindset.
• Preferred: Experience formulating capsules, powders, tablets, or other dietary supplement dosage forms.

Work Environment

• Setting: Clean, orderly, properly lit, and ventilated workplace with low-to-moderate noise; field conditions may vary.
• Materials: Potential exposure to raw materials, including common allergens.
• Travel: As needed to meet role accountabilities.
• Physical requirements: Operating office equipment, occasional reaching and lifting of small objects, and frequently grasping, lifting, or moving items over 10 pounds.
• Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations may be available to support qualified individuals in performing essential job functions.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $81,700 - $98,000 annually

Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to market demands, experience, training, skills, and education.

Benefits Include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Participation
• Life Insurance
• Wellness Benefits
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

Ready to bring great formulations to life? If you are energized by formulation science, precise technical work, and collaborative product development, we encourage you to apply.

Lief is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, or sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Suppose you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran. In that case, you have the right to request accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center due to your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Lief Human Resources department.

Lief will consider employment-qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Lief uses E-Verify to confirm work eligibility in the United States. E-Verify compares the information on your Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to official government records