Food R&D Scientist
Job Description
- We are seeking an experienced Food Scientist to lead development across meat proteins (beef, pork, poultry. This role is responsible for creating new formulations, enhancing existing products, optimizing processes, and ensuring successful commercialization from concept to production.
- Lead multiple product development initiatives, focusing on meat and plant-based proteins as well as sauces, dips, and spreads.
- Drive assigned projects from ideation through scale-up, providing technical leadership and recommending new product concepts.
- Troubleshoot formulation or processing issues using scientific methodology and deliver innovative solutions for both new and existing products.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Procurement to define equipment needs, material requirements, and optimal processing conditions.
- Evaluate ingredients, suppliers, and co-packers to ensure they meet project requirements and company standards.
- Conduct and oversee sensory panels, shelf-life studies, competitive benchmarking, and quality improvement testing.
- Monitor and analyze production reports to assess schedule adherence, efficiencies, and process performance.
- Identify process improvements and design experiments to enhance formulations, streamline processes, or increase production capacity.
- Review market trends and competitive products to identify opportunities for innovation or optimization.
- Provide accurate raw material data and formulations for regulatory teams to generate nutritional statements and product analysis.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science or related field.
- 3–5 years of product development experience within a food manufacturing environment.
- Prior experience developing USDA-regulated meat protein products.
- Familiarity with nutritional analysis software (e.g., Esha Genesis) preferred.
- Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, flavor systems, and formulation science.
- Experience in supplier sourcing and ingredient qualification.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to build credibility across teams.
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
Meet Your Recruiter
Mike Schmitz
Technical Recruiter
If you're a skilled professional in engineering, manufacturing, or life sciences and you're exploring your next career move—I'm here to help.
I’m a Senior Technical Recruiter and Team Leader who’s passionate about connecting great people with great companies. I specialize in placing candidates in roles within product, equipment, food/beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and I work closely with some of the most respected employers in the industry.
My approach is consultative, transparent, and relationship-driven. I’ll take the time to understand your goals, skills, and preferences—and then help you navigate the search process with confidence. From resume tips and interview prep to timely feedback and honest communication, my goal is to make your job search feel less stressful and more strategic.
I’ve worked with professionals at all levels—from early career to senior leadership—and I’m always looking to expand my network of talented candidates. Whether you’re actively on the market or just curious about what’s out there, I’d love to connect.