VRO Engineer - Compounding

Join Estée Lauder Companies at Whitman Laboratories, where a fifth of the company’s global sales output is manufactured. As a global leader in prestige beauty, we serve over half a billion consumers annually through renowned brands such as Estée Lauder, MAC, Jo Malone London, and Clinique, across more than 150 countries.

We are looking for a technically driven VRO Engineer to join our Technical Transfer team. In this role, you will provide technical expertise across a range of manufacturing projects, including the transfer of commercialised processes into the facility, transitioning processes across different manufacturing equipment and kettle types/sizes, production support and troubleshooting, and Right First Time (RFT) improvement initiatives.

Working closely with R&D, Quality, Technical Services and Manufacturing teams, you will play an important role in resolving manufacturing challenges, improving process robustness and identifying opportunities to continuously improve our ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute VRO activities and projects relating to the transfer and optimisation of manufacturing processes.


• Provide technical expertise across assigned projects, anticipating potential issues and developing appropriate plans and solutions.


• Lead technical investigations into manufacturing issues, identifying root causes and developing sustainable corrective and preventative actions to minimise recurrence.


• Analyse batch records and provide on-the-floor support during manufacturing to investigate batch failures and validate technical interventions.


• Support the transfer of commercialised processes into the manufacturing facility and the transfer of existing processes between different kettle types and sizes.


• Provide technical expertise and onsite support for the implementation and validation of reformulations, new production versions and process changes, ensuring manufacturing requirements and process performance are appropriately assessed.


• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement through manufacturing performance data, technical observations, recurring issues and KPI trends.


• Review manufacturing procedures and provide technical recommendations to improve process robustness, operational efficiency and standardisation.


• Translate technical learning and successful improvements into standardised ways of working, procedures and knowledge-sharing to support sustained manufacturing performance.


• Participate in project meetings and work collaboratively with project managers and wider project teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and within scope.


• Build effective working relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including R&D, Quality Assurance, Technical Services and Manufacturing.

• Degree in Chemical Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent practical experience gained through a minimum of 5 years working within a compounding or mass manufacturing environment.


• Strong knowledge of process development, ideally within cosmetic formulation or a similar manufacturing environment.


• Knowledge and understanding of raw materials would be advantageous.


• Experience investigating technical or manufacturing issues and applying root cause analysis techniques.


• Ability to interpret manufacturing and batch information and translate findings into practical, sustainable improvements.


• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to anticipate potential technical challenges.


• Ability to quickly learn and develop knowledge in new technical fields, processes and technologies.


• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple functions.


• Proactive and positive approach, with a can-do attitude and the ability to respond effectively to urgent priorities.


• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple activities and contribute to projects within agreed timelines.