Job Details

  • $50,000-$80,000 a year
  • Full-time

Job Summary

The R&D Associate is an entry-to-mid-level, growth-track role for someone who wants to build a career in product development within the hair industry. Working closely with the R&D team, this person will learn every stage of how a wig, extension, or hair piece goes from concept to shelf, with the intent of growing into a future product development leader. This role is best suited to someone with a genuine eye for fashion, trends, and hair who wants to turn that instinct into a professional discipline.

Job Description

Product Development Learning & Rotation

  • Work directly alongside R&D leadership and the Documentation Coordinator across every stage of product development, from concept and trend research through vendor sampling, spec finalization, and launch
  • Rotate through hands-on exposure to sourcing, quality control, and packaging/design coordination to build full working knowledge of the product development lifecycle
  • Take on increasing ownership of small product initiatives or SKU extensions under R&D guidance as skills develop

Trend & Market Awareness

  • Research and track emerging trends in texture, color, length, and styling across the hair and beauty industry, social media, and fashion influences
  • Bring a genuine point of view on what’s next in wigs, extensions, and hair pieces, and translate that instinct into concrete product ideas
  • Attend trade shows, competitor reviews, and trend-research sessions as part of ongoing development

Vendor & Sample Coordination

  • Support vendor sample requests, tracking, and evaluation alongside the R&D team
  • Help assess sample quality against specifications and company standards, learning to spot and articulate the difference between good and exceptional product
  • Assist in coordinating timelines between vendors, QC, and the broader product calendar

Cross-Functional Exposure

  • Work with SCM, Marketing, and Design to understand how product decisions ripple across the business, building the cross-functional fluency required of future R&D leadership
  • Support the R&D Documentation Coordinator in keeping specifications and product records accurate during active development
  • Participate in relevant portions of the monthly S&OP cycle to understand how product pipeline decisions connect to company-wide planning

Growth & Development

  • Receive structured mentorship from R&D leadership with the explicit goal of growing into a future product development leadership role
  • Take initiative in proposing product ideas, trend opportunities, or process improvements as comfort and experience grow

Qualifications

  • Experience: 0–2 years of experience; prior internship, coursework, or hands-on interest in fashion, hair, beauty, or product development strongly preferred. This role is designed for someone early in their career with strong potential, not necessarily deep prior experience
  • Skill(s): A genuine, demonstrable eye for fashion, trends, and hair styling; strong curiosity and a self-starter mindset; ability to turn instinct and observation into clear, articulated ideas
  • Skill(s): Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple in-progress projects
  • Language(s): Fluency in both English and Korean required (written and spoken)
  • Certification(s): Not applicable

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) & Sick Days
  • 401(k) with Company Match
  • Structured mentorship and growth path toward future R&D leadership
  • Catered lunch provided each weekday