Food Technologist, R&D

Hungry for a career that’s as rewarding as it is delicious? At Aspire Bakeries, we don’t just bake breads, cookies, and cakes - we create foods that bring people together. From La Brea Bakery® artisan breads to Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies, our products are enjoyed by millions of people every day. And behind every bite are talented manufacturing and support teams who take pride in their work and our food. We’re looking for hard-working people who will bring integrity, creativity, and a passion for excellence to everything they do - whether that’s on the bakery floor, in the office, or supporting customers. In return, we offer a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth - where your contributions matter and your career can rise as high as our bread loaves! With 13 commercial bakeries across North America and a reputation as an industry leader, Aspire Bakeries is rising together with our people and our customers to be the best all-around bakery solution. If you’re ready to grow with us, we’d love to hear from you Why You’ll Love Working At Aspire Bakeries Culture - Our culture thrives on collaboration, diversity, and a shared passion for excellence. We support team members, empower growth, and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. Health & Wellness – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus company-paid life insurance and additional voluntary options to fit your needs. Work-Life Balance – Paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and holidays so you can recharge and spend time on what matters most. Financial Security – A competitive 401(k) with immediate company match, plus short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind. Growth & Development – Opportunities to build skills, grow your career, and develop expertise through Aspire Bakeries’ learning and development programs. Flexibility & Support – HSA and FSA plans to help you manage everyday expenses. Recognition & Rewards – Performance incentive plans that celebrate achievements across sales, bakery performance, and individual contributions. About the Role We are seeking a Food Technologist to join our R & D team at our Van Nuys, CA. As a Food Technologist, you will be accountable for driving new product development and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring formulations meet customer expectations, regulatory standards, and operational feasibility. This role plays a critical part in bringing innovative, high-quality bakery products from concept to commercialization. This role requires you to be onsite in Van Nuys, CA four days per week, giving you hands-on collaboration with the team and daily exposure to the pulse of the business. Compensation Salary Range: $68,000- $91,000 Core Accountabilities (What You’ll be Doing) Lead new product development initiatives from concept through commercialization, aligned to customer needs and business goals Develop and optimize formulations within defined constraints (cost, labeling, shelf life, and quality requirements) Drive continuous improvement of existing products to meet evolving health, regulatory, and customer expectations Partner cross-functionally with marketing, sales, operations, procurement, and regulatory teams to support product success Serve as a technical resource by providing formulation expertise, training, and documentation to internal stakeholders Conduct and interpret food quality and analytical testing to ensure product performance and compliance Manage projects, timelines, and documentation within the concept-to-commercialization process Minimum Qualifications (What You Bring to the Table) (Required to be considered) AA/BS in Food Science or related field, or 1–2 years of industrial food development experience Working knowledge of food formulation, ingredient functionality, and basic quality testing methods Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and SharePoint (intermediate level) Basic math skills and ability to read and interpret formulas and specifications Strong communication, organization, and time management skills Ability to work in a production environment, including standing for extended periods and lifting up to 50 pounds Willingness to travel domestically up to 20% Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success) Additional culinary or bakery product development experience Familiarity with SAP, Genesis, OEC Graphics, or Discovery systems Knowledge of current food trends, clean label initiatives, and health-focused reformulations Spanish language proficiency Experience working within a concept-to-commercialization framework. Aspire Bakeries LLC values the contribution each Team Member brings to our organization. The final determination of a successful candidate’s starting pay will vary based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to location, shift, education, skill, and experience within the job or the industry. The pay scale listed for this position is generally for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed in this specific job description. Additional pay may be determined for those candidates that exceed these specified qualifications and requirements. We provide a competitive compensation package that recognizes your experience, credentials, and education alongside a robust benefits program to meet your needs. For union-represented postings, wage rates and ranges are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements. Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.