Fragrance Analytical Scientist

Who we are at Osmo:

Osmo is a digital olfaction company, on a mission to give computers a sense of smell to improve the health and wellbeing of human life. Why? Our sense of smell both enriches and saves lives, and has a deep and direct connection to our emotions and memory. This foundational understanding of smell's impact has directly informed the development of our latest innovation: Generation.

Generation is a new kind of fragrance house powered by Olfactory Intelligence (OI) to blend AI with world-class perfumery. It will help brands create emotionally resonant scents faster, more accessibly, and with greater creative clarity. Our technology allows us to explore vast scent possibilities, discover novel ingredients, and design fragrances informed by both data and artistry.

Beyond fragrance, Olfactory Intelligence has applications across industries including manufacturing, security, medicine, and more. We believe in the power of automation and thoughtfully applied AI/ML to solve problems beyond the reach of human intuition alone. Osmo is headquartered in New York, NY, with a new facility in New Jersey, and offices in Somerville, MA.

Osmo is seeking a Fragrance Analytical Scientist specializing in the competitive analysis of fragrance compositions. The ideal candidate will be an expert in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and possess a proven track record of reproducing fragrance formulas with a high level of chemical and sensory accuracy.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct in-depth competitive analysis of commercial fragrance products:

• Systematically deconstruct competitor fragrance compositions using traditional GC-MS software tools as well as newly developed proprietary tools

• Benchmark Osmo's fragrance creations against market leaders, identifying gaps and opportunities for innovation and differentiation.

• Provide actionable insights derived from competitive data to inform fragrance development strategies, identify emerging trends, and understand competitor intellectual property and formulation approaches.

• Work closely with Applied Research/Machine Learning team to improve fragrance deformulation capabilities for benchmarking and competitive intelligence.

• Build and maintain comprehensive internal analytical libraries. This includes fragrance raw materials, reference standards, and a rich repository of analytical data derived from consumer products

• Design, develop, and optimize GC-MS methods for the comprehensive analysis of fragrance raw materials, intermediates, and complex finished aromatic systems, utilizing techniques such as headspace, solvent extraction, and other advanced sample preparation methods.

• Leverage exceptional olfactory skills to correlate analytical findings with sensory characteristics, identifying key odorants and contributing to the sensory evaluation of profiled compositions.

• Stay abreast of the latest analytical techniques, instrumentation advancements, and regulatory requirements relevant to fragrance analysis.

• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the overall analytical capabilities of the team.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry or a related scientific discipline with 3+ years of relevant industry experience in fragrance analysis, OR M.S. with 5+ years of experience, OR B.S. with 6+ years of experience.

• Demonstrated expert-level proficiency in GC-MS for the detailed chemical profiling of complex fragrance systems is mandatory.

• Excellent knowledge of chemical composition and sensory characteristics of naturals

• Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills, with proficiency in relevant software (e.g., ChemStation, MassHunter, Xcalibur, NIST libraries).

• Proven excellent olfactory skills with the ability to distinguish and identify a wide range of aroma chemicals and natural raw materials.

• Extensive hands-on experience with method development, validation, and routine analysis using various GC-MS platforms..

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot complex analytical challenges independently.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, innovative environment.

• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to producing high-quality work.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences.

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, and more.

If this role inspires you we'd encourage you to apply. We are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining an incredible team optimized for a diversity of thought, background, and approaches. All employment decisions and responsibilities are determined based on current ability and your ability to grow, without regard to race, color, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, physical, mental, or sensory disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Osmo does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Osmo or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by the Osmo Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Osmo and Osmo will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.