Food Scientist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Food Scientist

Job Description

• The Food Scientist leads and supports end-to-end product development projects, from initial concept through commercialization, to deliver innovative and high-quality food and beverage products.
• This role develops formulations and prototypes, coordinates plant trials and product testing, and ensures products meet technical specifications, business objectives, and regulatory requirements.
• The Food Scientist collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement, troubleshoot production issues, and maintain accurate technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support food and beverage product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Develop and optimize formulations and prototypes that meet product specifications, sensory targets, cost parameters, and overall business objectives.
• Coordinate, plan, and execute plant trials, scale-up activities, and validation runs in manufacturing environments.
• Conduct product testing, collect development data, and analyze results to guide decision-making and improvements.
• Source, screen, and evaluate new ingredients, suppliers, and technologies to support innovation and cost optimization.
• Prepare product samples for internal stakeholders and external customers, ensuring quality and consistency.
• Analyze and interpret development and test data, documenting results, conclusions, and recommendations in a clear and structured manner.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, and Operations teams to align product design with operational capabilities and market needs.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to product development processes, manufacturing efficiency, and product quality.
• Assist with troubleshooting production issues, identifying root causes, and implementing product or process improvements.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date technical documentation, specifications, formulations, and project records.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements throughout the product development and commercialization process.
• Apply research and development (R&D) methodologies and laboratory practices to support experimental design, testing, and evaluation.
• Contribute to project planning and timelines, providing regular updates on progress, risks, and technical challenges.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline.
• At least 2 years of food product development experience within the food and beverage industry.
• Hands-on experience in research and development (R&D) for food products.
• Strong knowledge of food processing principles and unit operations.
• Understanding of ingredient functionality and how ingredients impact product performance, stability, and sensory attributes.
• Experience with new product development and formulation of food and beverage products.
• Familiarity with food manufacturing and food production environments.
• Experience working in a laboratory setting, including testing, analysis, and documentation.
• Knowledge of quality assurance practices within the food industry.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Effective organizational skills to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving abilities to address technical and production challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and present technical information.
• Proven project management abilities to plan, execute, and track product development activities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment and build productive cross-functional relationships.
• Experience conducting plant trials and scale-up activities from lab to production.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in the broader food industry, including exposure to various product categories or processes.
• Familiarity with manufacturing operations and the interaction between product formulation and processing conditions.
• Knowledge of regulatory and food safety requirements relevant to food and beverage products.
• Attention to detail in documentation, record-keeping, and specification management.
• Comfort working with cross-functional partners in Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, and Operations.
• Interest in continuous improvement and innovation in product development and manufacturing processes.

Work Environment

• This role operates in a fully onsite environment, with standard hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• The Food Scientist works in a combination of laboratory, pilot plant, and production floor settings, handling ingredients, formulations, and finished products while using typical food science and laboratory equipment.
• The position involves close collaboration with manufacturing and quality teams in a food production facility, participation in plant trials and scale-up runs, and adherence to all food safety and quality protocols.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Elmwood Park, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $42.00 - $44.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Elmwood Park,NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 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 View email address on ziprecruiter.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.