Formulation & Product Development Manager

Microcaps is an ETH Zurich spin-off founded in March 2019. Our unique technology allows us to produce highly precise and innovative microcapsules that empower materials to unlock new capabilities; all tailored to various markets from cosmetics to nutraceutical and pharma.

Our first commercial focus is a genuine breakthrough for the perfume industry: alcohol‑free fine fragrances. We already have our first products on the market with reputable brand partners and are now preparing global launches to establish Microcaps as the reference for next‑generation fragrance bases.

With our dedicated perfume factory being finalized in 2025, our mission for 2026 is clear: make alcohol‑free fine fragrance available worldwide.

To strengthen our team in Zurich-Schlieren we are looking for a:

Formulation & Product Development Manager, 100%

As Formulation & Product Development Manager you own the scientific and technical core of Microcaps' value proposition: translating the company's established microfluidic encapsulation platforms into robust, scalable and market-ready formulations and products, with a clear focus on Fine Fragrance and Cosmetics applications.

The role bridges formulation science and industrial product realization, ensuring that the Voice of the Customer is respected and that the parameters critical to quality are reliably met at commercial scale. You build and lead the formulation and product development function – including its regulatory dimension – set the product development pipeline in alignment with customer and commercial priorities, and are accountable for moving product development projects from proof of concept to validated, manufacturable product, including the regulatory compliance and product testing required to bring them to market.

• Define and own the formulation and product development strategy and roadmap for Fine Fragrance and Cosmetics, aligned with the company's commercial and customer delivery priorities.
• Build, lead and develop a team of 2+ formulation scientists and product developers and foster a culture of scientific rigor and reliable execution.
• Embed regulatory thinking into development from the earliest stage, so that products are compliant by design for the relevant Fine Fragrance and Cosmetics markets.
• Act as senior technical authority and represent Microcaps' formulation capabilities to customers and partners.
• Lead the design, development and optimization of encapsulation formulations for fragrance and cosmetic actives, balancing application profile, stability, sensory performance and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee formulation and process development from screening through lab-scale and pilot to transfer to production, ensuring robustness, reproducibility and scalability on the microfluidic platform.
• Manage customer development projects end-to-end: technical scoping, proof of concept / feasibility, prototyping, iteration and validation in production.
• Own in-depth product testing: Define and oversee analytical characterization (e.g. capsule size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, sprayability and fine fragrance content), stability studies, packaging compatibility and performance/application testing, and set specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure regulatory compliance of formulations and products (e.g. EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, ingredient / IFRA considerations for fragrance, safety and labelling requirements) and support the preparation of related technical documentation.

• MSc or PhD in Cosmetic Technology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a closely related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in formulation and/or product development, with a strong track record in fine fragrance and/or cosmetics; exposure to encapsulation systems is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated experience leading development projects from lab concept to industrial-scale implementation, including scale-up and technology transfer.
• Solid hands-on experience with product testing and analytical characterization, and a working command of cosmetics/fragrance regulatory requirements.
• Proven people-leadership experience building and developing technical teams.
• Experience in a fast-paced, growth-stage / scale-up environment is a strong advantage.

• Work permit in Switzerland.

  Skills:

• Deep expertise in formulation technology and the physical chemistry of dispersed systems (emulsions, polymer/biopolymer matrices, microencapsulation).
• In-depth product testing know-how: particle characterization (size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, release), stability, compatibility and application/performance testing.
• Strong regulatory knowledge for cosmetics and fragrance (e.g. EU Cosmetics Regulation, IFRA, safety and labelling).
• Solid understanding of scale-up and the interface between formulation and process/equipment engineering (microfluidics knowledge a plus).
• Structured development methodology (stage-gate, Design of Experiments, Quality by Design).
• Strong project- and stakeholder-management skills; able to run multiple parallel customer projects.
• Strong leadership, communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Fluent English; German is an asset.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and entrepreneurial mindset suited to a scale-up.

• Performance management incl. bonus system
• 5 weeks of vacation
• Working with a highly skilled and passionate team
• The opportunity to participate in building a business that is entirely new. With novel products and unique technology

Application: Please apply using the form on our Webpage’s Career Site Microcaps(at)ch -- career