Beverage Technologist

Job Title: Beverage Technologist

Job Description

This position is responsible for the development of projects that showcase new flavors in high-quality creative finished beverage products. The candidate will utilize the newest flavor trends, best-in-class market launches, sensory capabilities, data processing, consumer insights, and technical information based on individual market needs. This role involves beverage innovation and providing prototypes in line with technology trends, as well as developing with sales, marketing, and food services to meet brand project goals.

Responsibilities

• Create finished drink and transferable beverage technologies, including new beverage formulation, specification, and documentation for transfer, filling, and mixing (e.g., wine, alcohol).
• Lead and direct beverage flavor innovation, including prototypes and providing beverage specifications, processes, documentation, and finished product samples (e.g., wine, alcohol, bottled water, non-alcoholic beverages).
• Identify and provide flavor, ingredient, and concept ideas for market launches and trends.
• Support beverage innovation by developing and transferring formulations for flexibility in technology, product launches, and new beverage flavor innovation teams, including drinks and canned cocktails.
• Collaborate with and direct beverage flavor innovation teams for strategic launches and trends.
• Analyze and provide beverage flavor innovation and develop finished product prototypes for launches collected through sensory, market insights, technical, sales, and all teams.
• Provide support and documentation for beverage flavor innovation launches, samples, and finished products.
• Analyze and verify lab, technical, and sensory data.
• Provide support and technical direction in developing and producing beverage innovation launches of finished beverage prototypes, including transferring and managing new product and new application processes.

Essential Skills

• 2+ years of experience in food and beverage.
• Bachelor"s Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Specific beverage/food development experience.
• Experience in food manufacturing, laboratory, testing development, and biology.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• R&D experience in a food and beverage environment.
• Flavor innovation skills.
• Technology management and sales experience.

Work Environment

You will work in a lab setting as part of a small team, spending your time mixing flavors and developing products. This role offers exposure to the entire lifecycle of a flavor, working closely with customers to develop the perfect product, and involves collaborating with a small, intimate team at a family-owned company.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Newport News, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.80 - $48.07/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Newport News,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 6, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.