About Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies is a global leader in prestige beauty, founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder and built on an enduring belief in creativity, high-touch service, and entrepreneurial spirit. As an employer, the Group offers talent the scale of an international house with the energy of distinctive brands across skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. Its culture values innovation, inclusion, learning, and responsible growth, inviting professionals to shape consumer experiences from laboratory to counter, digital platform to boardroom. Employees join a purpose-led organization where heritage, artistry, and scientific excellence meet to define the future of luxury beauty.
The Estée Lauder Companies seeks a Principal Scientist to drive scientific innovation across Advanced Technology platforms leveraged by all prestige brands. This senior scientist develops novel methods, models, and strategies for claim substantiation and scientific asset generation, while leading a junior scientist direct report. The role encompasses scientific mentorship, experimental design and execution, multi-platform project management, and cross-functional collaboration with clinical testing, regulatory, and R&I teams to deliver breakthrough technologies with regulatory compliance and substantiated efficacy claims.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead and mentor a junior scientist direct report in generating and reporting scientific data for new claims substantiation across brand portfolios
- Develop novel biological concepts and design experiments that establish scientific foundation for innovative skin care technologies and claims
- Collaborate across ATP innovation, clinical testing, legal/regulatory, and R&I communities to translate breakthrough technologies into brand-ready scientific assets with full regulatory compliance
- Manage multiple upstream platforms and strategic pillars within the Advanced Technology department to deliver high-impact innovations across the corporate brand ecosystem
- Develop performance development plan goals, evaluate team member progress, provide constructive feedback, and guide career advancement for direct reports
- Generate comprehensive scientific documentation and reports demonstrating compliance with ELC standards of scientific rigor and regulatory requirements
Qualifications
- Master's degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or related scientific field with 1–2 years of relevant laboratory or R&D experience, OR PhD in related discipline with minimum 9 years of professional scientific research experience
- Demonstrated expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific documentation
- Proven ability to mentor and lead junior scientists in a collaborative research environment
- Strong knowledge of skincare science, dermatology, or cosmetic chemistry and regulatory substantiation standards
- Excellent cross-functional communication skills with ability to translate complex science into actionable brand claims
Skills
Experience
Master's degree with 1–2 years of experience in scientific research, OR PhD with minimum 9 years of professional experience in research and development, preferably in skincare, cosmetics, or pharmaceutical science. Demonstrated track record of leading scientific initiatives, publishing research, and collaborating across R&D teams.
Education
Master's degree (minimum; PhD preferred) in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or closely related scientific discipline.
Workplace
This position is based in Melville, New York, USA, within easy reach of New York.
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Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 115,000 to USD 125,000 per annum.
Benefits
Health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision); wellness and family support programs; life and disability insurance; retirement savings plans; paid leave programs; education-related programs; paid holidays and vacation time; highly competitive bonus program with performance-based overachievement potential.
Culture
The Estée Lauder Companies fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for prestige beauty are deeply valued. As a global house of distinctive brands, it offers employees an environment that encourages innovation, professional growth, and a shared commitment to excellence and consumer inspiration.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Estée Lauder Companies, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Senior Scientist, Advanced Technology», «Principal Research Scientist», «Advanced Technology Lead Scientist», «Research Director, Scientific Innovation», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.