Contract Olfactory Panelist

Who we are at Osmo

Osmo is the Olfactory Intelligence company, on a mission to give AI a sense of smell to improve the health and wellbeing of human life. Why? Our sense of smell has the ability to delight us, protect us, and heal us.

Olfactory Intelligence has applications across industries including fragrance, 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.

We're headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, with an additional office in Somerville, MA. We provide complimentary shuttle service from Brooklyn and Newark, NJ.

About the Role

Osmo is seeking a highly meticulous and olfactively acute individual to join our team as Contract Sensory Panelist (Fragrance). This is a specialized, part-time contract role dedicated exclusively to generating high-quality sensory data that fuels our Olfactory Intelligence models. It's work that rewards genuine curiosity about scent and the tenacity to stay sharp through long, repetitive evaluation sessions.

You'll use your superior sense of smell to characterize the behavior, performance, and stability of fragrance compounds and formulas, directly contributing to the digitization of scent. We're looking for someone with a genuine passion for fragrance, a methodical approach to objective evaluation, and the kindness and patience to work well within a tight-knit panel team relying on each other for consistency.

What You'll Do

• Own Dedicated Olfactory Evaluation — Since smelling is an essential function of this role, spend a set number of hours per day actively smelling and evaluating fragrance samples in various formats.
• Generate Precise Sensory Data — Perform character and intensity annotations based on Osmo's internal scales and taxonomic lexicon.
• Track Stability and Performance — Evaluate the evolution of odor profiles over time, measuring fragrance integrity and performance in samples from stability chambers and application tests.
• Show Up as a Reliable Panelist — Rigorously follow established protocols and maintain the highest standards of objectivity and focus, panel after panel.
• Stay Calibrated With the Team — Participate in required training sessions to stay aligned with other panelists and consistent across data points, with the curiosity to keep learning Osmo's evolving taxonomy.

Who You Are

• Olfactively Proven — Must pass a sensory acuity screening.
• Focused and Disciplined — Sustained concentration through long, repetitive sensory tasks — tenacity is part of the job description here.
• Methodical and Objective — Separates personal preference from analytical sensory assessment.
• A Fast, Curious Learner — Quickly learns Osmo's internal scales and complex olfactive taxonomy.
• Reliable — Committed to scheduled hours.
• On-Site in Elizabeth, NJ — Available 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Ways to Stand Out

• A Genuine Passion for Scent — Deep-seated curiosity about fragrance or olfactory science.
• A Descriptive Vocabulary — Beyond simple hedonic (like/dislike) terms.
• A Scientific Foundation — Chemistry, biology, or psychology background or interest.

What We Offer

• Real Growth Path — Starts as a 90-day probationary period at 20 hours/week, with potential to grow to 30 hours/week and benefits eligibility.
• Hourly Rate — $30/hour for 4 hours of evaluation
• Consistent, predictable contract hours

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.

Every posting lists the pay range and benefits for that role. Where you land in the range depends on skills, experience, scope, and internal equity. Full time employees receive a total rewards package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, a healthcare FSA, a 401(k) with company match, flexible paid time off, paid family leave, company holidays, and commuter benefits. Eligible roles also receive equity, which is subject to the terms of the equity plan and board approval and is not guaranteed. Applicants and employees may ask about and discuss their pay without retaliation.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Osmo is an equal opportunity employer. We hire, develop, and promote based on skills, experience, and potential, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related conditions, gender identity or expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status, familial or caregiver status, disability, genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, military or veteran status, liability for military service, hair texture or protective hairstyle, arrest or conviction record consistent with applicable law, unemployment status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This commitment covers every part of employment, including hiring, job assignment, compensation, discipline, benefits, and training.

Accommodations: If you need an accommodation to apply or interview, tell us at accomodations@osmo.ai. Your request is confidential and will not affect how we evaluate you. Please reach out before your first interview so we can plan with you.

Recruiting & Staffing Agencies: Osmo does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Please do not send resumes to Osmo employees or any Osmo address. Osmo is not responsible for fees on unsolicited submissions unless the Talent Acquisition team has engaged you directly in writing.

Work authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Each posting states whether visa sponsorship for employment is available for that role. All new hires must complete identity and employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) after an offer is accepted.