R&D Product Development Scientist

Pay Range: $65.00hr - $70.00hr

Job Overview:

The R&D Product Development role provides technical development support for projects across the North America Zone Away From Home (AFH) business. The individual will support innovation, renovation, productivity, and commercialization initiatives for food products, with an emphasis on conducting benchtop formulation, prototype development, analytical testing, feasibility assessments, costing, factory trials, recipe development, technical documentation, and initial factory production support. The role requires an individual with a technical/scientific background who can manage multiple assignments concurrently, apply scientific principles to new situations, work with semi-structured oversight, and execute independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Key Components of the Role:

• Conduct benchtop experiments and analytical measurements in the laboratory.
• Develop formulations and prototypes for new and improved products.
• Evaluate flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, shelf life, and compliance with government and industry standards.
• Support innovation, renovation, productivity, and commercialization initiatives.
• Support product development involving condiments, sauces, soups, mac & cheese, and other Away From Home (AFH) products.
• Perform feasibility assessments and product costing.
• Supervise and support factory trials and provide technical guidance during initial factory production.
• Develop recipes, factory documentation, technical documentation, and product labels.
• Conduct shelf-life assessments and related technical testing.
• Review and evaluate ingredients.
• Collaborate with Packaging, Quality, Operations, Project Management, Marketing, and Sales.
• Manage multiple concurrent assignments with strong scientific, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Apply Design of Experiments principles to product development activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Meat Science, Chemical Engineering, or an equivalent/related field.
• Minimum 3 to 4 years of real-world product development experience.
• Strong benchtop formulation capability is critical.
• Hands-on experience with bench experiments, prototype development, analytical measurements, and related laboratory techniques.
• Strong understanding of Design of Experiments.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with semi-structured oversight and execute independently after receiving direction.
• Strong communication, attention to detail, critical thinking, investigation, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter with willingness and ability to learn.
• Ability to work onsite Monday through Friday.
• Willingness to travel approximately 15% to factory locations.
• Internship or co-op experience in the food or consumer products industry preferred.
• Experience with condiments, sauces, soups, or mac & cheese is helpful but not required.
• Exposure to foodservice/Away From Home (AFH) product categories preferred.
• Experience with sensory testing, shelf-life studies, or analytical/nutritional testing preferred.
• Demonstrated adaptability across product categories or R&D environments.