Senior Food Scientist

Location: Mira Loma

Job Title: Senior Food Scientist

Classification: Exempt full-time

Reports to: Senior Director of R&D

Backup Position: R&D Manager

PURPOSE

The Senior Food Scientist leads food product development initiatives, including the creation of formulations and scaling up to industrial production. This role also drives process improvement efforts to enhance efficiency and product quality. The Senior Food Scientist is responsible for documenting all aspects of product development - writing clear finished product and process specifications, including formulations, procedures, and testing protocols. They also play an active role in sensory evaluations and product trials to identify opportunities for optimization and are responsible for assessing and implementing new food technologies.

The ideal candidate has 5-7 years of experience in a structured, process-driven R&D environment - preferably within a large, multinational CPG food company - and is eager to apply that expertise in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting where innovation fuels growth. They are ambitious, with a desire to progress along a defined career path toward an R&D Manager role and beyond.

Experience with Hispanic foods and chilled products is a plus.

DUTIES

Some of the duties of this position are those described below. This job description does not state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management.

• Lead the development of new product formulations and support improvement of existing items to meet innovation goals and customer-specific requests.
• Design and execute experiments to develop product formulas, prototypes, and finished products that align with targeted product profiles across various formats.
• Conduct sensory evaluations and testing of new products under development.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams to support new product presentations and generate new business opportunities.
• Provide product development support for supplier qualifications, plant site validations, and product quality improvements.
• Participate in prototype development to ensure alignment with final product goals.
• Use Genesis R&D software to create and maintain Nutrition Facts Panels for new and existing products.
• Develop and maintain Technical Data Sheets (TDS) and processing procedures for all formulations.
• Conduct shelf-life studies for new and existing products to ensure product safety and quality.
• Supervise production test runs and monitor plant production to identify opportunities for process optimization, efficiency gains, and adherence to product "gold standards."
• Evaluate and implement processing improvements through technology, formula refinement, or equipment upgrades.
• Study and implement methods to improve product attributes such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and shelf stability.
• Lead packaging development for new and existing products to ensure performance and compatibility with production processes.
• Source new ingredients and evaluate alternatives for both new product development and existing product optimization.
• Supervise the Samples Coordinator to ensure timely, accurate, and cost-effective delivery of product samples.
• Maintain sample inventory, packing materials, and area organization in compliance with SQF standards and budget targets.
• Coordinate logistics for sample deliveries, including courier shipments and local van deliveries.
• Partner with appliance and portion pack teams to validate new concepts and support consumer testing initiatives.
• Engage with cross-functional teams including Sales, Marketing, QA, and Operations to ensure alignment and successful implementation of R&D initiatives.
• Uphold company policies and regulatory requirements, promoting a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Support internal QA programs and SQF audits by maintaining accurate R&D documentation.
• Identify and report unsafe conditions to management promptly to maintain a safe working environment.
• Ensure adherence to all food safety practices, including enforcement of SQF standards, GMPs, SSOPs, and SOPs.
• Oversee compliance with all applicable USDA and FDA regulations related to food manufacturing and labeling.
• Enforce employee safety protocols in alignment with company policies and OSHA standards.

Specific

Skills and Abilities

Required

• Strong knowledge of the consumer food marketplace, including emerging food trends and innovation drivers.
• Proven expertise in food technology with the ability to develop and commercialize products under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional multitasking, project management, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
  Spanish language proficiency is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, launching, and maintaining product specifications in collaboration with Quality Assurance and Operations teams.
• Working knowledge of…