Formulation & Laboratory Technician – Personal Care & Food Applications

Background

Melt&Marble’s mission is to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable products across different industries. We harness precision fermentation to create the next generation of sustainable designer fats, tailored for applications ranging from delicious, climate-friendly foods to high-performance personal care products. 

We are expanding our team and looking to attract enthusiastic & mission-driven people to join us on our journey.  

Position summary

We are looking for a hands-on and detail-oriented Formulation & Laboratory Technician to support our personal care and food product development activities.

In this role, you will support the development and application of our innovative ingredients by carrying out routine laboratory work, preparing cosmetic prototypes and customer samples, supporting stability and quality control activities, and maintaining an organised and well-functioning formulation laboratory.

The role is suited to someone who enjoys practical laboratory work and is comfortable working independently according to established procedures, while also being curious about formulation science, personal care and food applications.

Main Responsibilities & Tasks

Formulation activities

• Prepare cosmetic formulations and prototypes according to established formulations and laboratory procedures. This might require large-scale manufacturing at times.

• Support formulation experiments by preparing raw materials, samples and test batches.

• Support preparation of application prototypes for internal evaluation, customer demonstrations and technical activities.

• Support food formulation experiments when required, including preparation and testing of food prototypes according to established procedures.

• Initiate stability testing of in-house formulations, maintain stability sample storage and perform and document routine stability observations and measurements at defined timepoints according to internal SOPs.

Quality control support

• Perform routine QC checks on raw materials, intermediate materials and finished prototypes where applicable according to internal procedures.

• Support batch-to-batch comparison and reproducibility testing.

• Maintain accurate laboratory records and ensure traceability of samples and results.

Laboratory and inventory management

• Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of laboratory equipment and ensure equipment is ready for use.

• Monitor inventory of raw materials, packaging materials, consumables and laboratory supplies.

• Receive, label and appropriately store incoming raw materials and laboratory materials, together with technical documentation.

• Maintain sample and prototype storage, including appropriate identification and disposal of expired or obsolete samples.

• Follow laboratory safety, chemical handling, waste disposal and documentation procedures.

Documentation and data management

• Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, batch records, sample logs and stability records.

• Enter routine laboratory results into established templates.

• Maintain traceability of formulations, raw materials, batches and customer samples.

• Identify and communicate deviations, unexpected observations or potential quality issues.

Collaboration

The role will work primarily with our Senior Product Application Scientist, and wider Product team, and may also provide laboratory support to food application activities when required.

You will primarily execute established laboratory procedures and experiments, while also contributing observations and practical insights that can support formulation development and troubleshooting.

As the role develops, there may be opportunities to take ownership of selected laboratory procedures, routine testing activities or specific application projects.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is:

• Hands-on and enjoys practical laboratory work.

• Highly organised and attentive to detail.

• Comfortable performing repetitive work accurately and consistently.

• Able to follow established procedures while recognising and reporting deviations.

• Reliable and able to work independently.

• Comfortable with accurate weighing, sample preparation and laboratory equipment.

• Interested in cosmetics, food formulation, formulation science, or biotechnology.

• Comfortable documenting experimental work and working with basic Excel or similar tools.

• A good communicator who is comfortable asking questions and raising potential issues.

Required qualifications

• Previous experience working in a laboratory environment.

• Experience with accurate weighing, sample preparation and laboratory documentation.

• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work safely with chemicals and laboratory equipment.

Preferred qualifications

• BSc in chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, food science or a related field.

• Experience in cosmetic formulation, personal care, food, pharmaceutical or chemical laboratories.

• Experience with mixing, homogenisation, heating/cooling or other formulation processes.

• Experience with preparing food products, such as bakery products or confectionery.

• Affinity with and interest in food formulation and product development.

• Experience with stability testing or routine QC.

• Basic understanding of cosmetic formulations and raw materials.

• Experience with laboratory inventory or sample management.

What you will contribute

This role will be an important part of maintaining an efficient and reliable laboratory operation. By taking ownership of routine formulation, sample preparation, stability, QC and laboratory management activities, you will enable the scientific team to focus on formulation development, application strategy, product validation and customer-facing technical activities.

We offer:  

• An innovative, interdisciplinary, and fun research environment where you can rapidly grow your skillset and advance in your career   

• Unique opportunity to participate in and make meaningful contributions to innovative projects that address key global challenges  

• Competitive remuneration, generous vacation package, and other benefits  

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden.   

Application procedure:  

Applications should be in English and contain the following:  

• Cover letter- tell us about your ambitions and why you’re a great fit for Melt&Marble and this particular position (300 words max!)  

• CV outlining your experience, educational background and key skills, including contact information of 2 current/former supervisors and 1 current/former colleague 

Application deadline: October 30th. Please note that we might evaluate applications as they are received and may close the position ahead of the deadline if we find a suitable applicant, so please apply early!