R&D Product Developer Color

Product Developer (m/w/d) – Hair Color Innovation

📍 Darmstadt, Germany | Full-time | R&D

Join us in shaping the future of hair color.

Are you a scientist at heart who loves to experiment, solve problems and turn innovative ideas into products that make a real difference? Do you enjoy combining science, creativity and technology to create solutions that people can see, experience and believe in?

Then this could be your opportunity to join the Wella Professionals R&D Color team in Darmstadt and help shape the next generation of hair color innovation.

We are looking for a curious and creative Product Developer (m/w/d) who is excited to learn, experiment and grow in a dynamic innovation environment. You will bring together scientific rigor, hands-on experimentation and a strong understanding of stylists, salons and consumers to develop products, technologies and services that deliver meaningful benefits and exceptional experiences.

Your Impact

• As a Product Developer, you will help bring innovative hair color technologies and product experiences from concept to reality.
• You will work hands-on in the laboratory, prototype new products and services, evaluate emerging technologies and build the technical evidence behind compelling product benefits and claims.
• But this role goes beyond the lab. A key part of your work will be turning science into stories – making complex technical innovations simple, tangible and inspiring for stylists, consumers and our commercial partners.
• You will collaborate closely with colleagues across R&D, Commercial, Brand and Education, helping transform breakthrough technologies into compelling product stories, strong claims and visually engaging demonstrations.
• And because innovation is also about finding better ways of working, you will have the opportunity to explore data, modeling, automation and AI to accelerate development, improve decision-making and eliminate low-value activities.

What You'll Do

• Support the development, prototyping and qualification of innovative hair color products, technologies and services.
• Design and execute laboratory, sensory and in-use testing to evaluate product performance, technology benefits and competitive superiority.
• Develop robust technical documentation, protocols, reports and development records with a high level of accuracy and discipline.
• Define and deliver claims substantiation using instrumental, laboratory, salon and consumer testing methodologies.
• Create engaging demonstrations, visualizations and proofs that make technical benefits tangible and easy to understand.
• Translate complex scientific and technical concepts into simple, compelling product stories and claims.
• Support freedom-to-practice, regulatory, registration and launch-readiness activities as required.
• Explore and leverage data science, modeling, automation and AI-enabled tools to improve development efficiency and accelerate learning cycles.
• Challenge existing ways of working and proactively identify opportunities to simplify, modernize or automate routine activities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to bring innovative ideas to life and create experiences that delight stylists and consumers.

What You'll Bring

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, Natural Sciences, Biology, Biotechnology or a related field.
• A genuine passion for science, innovation, emerging technologies and beauty.
• Hands-on laboratory experience and strong experimental design capabilities.
• Excellent documentation skills and a strong attention to detail.
• The ability to combine scientific rigor with creativity and consumer-centric thinking.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• The ability to make complex technical concepts easy to understand and compelling to different audiences.
• A growth mindset and genuine curiosity – you enjoy learning, experimenting and trying new approaches.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced innovation environment where priorities can evolve quickly.
• An interest in data science, modeling, automation, digital tools and AI and their potential to transform R&D.
• Fluency in English is required.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to do more than develop products – you'll help shape what comes next in hair color.

You'll work at the intersection of science, beauty, technology and creativity, collaborating with talented colleagues to turn new ideas into innovations that stylists can see, understand and believe in.

You'll also have the freedom to question the way things have always been done, experiment with new technologies and help build a more agile, data-driven and AI-enabled approach to innovation.

ABOUT WELLA

Wella Company is one of The World’s leading Beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders. For more information about the Wella Company, visit our website www.wellacompany.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT R&D

Research & Development in Wella is a highly collaborative, competent and innovative group. You join diverse teams of highly passionate Scientists, Engineers and Hair & Nail Artists who innovate at the forefront of technology and beauty trends. 

Ready to innovate what’s next?

If you're curious, hands-on and excited by the idea of turning scientific innovation into products and experiences that make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 Location: Darmstadt, Germany