Research And Development Scientist

We are seeking an R&D Scientist to join our pet food research and development team. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and improving wet pet food products from concept through commercialization. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams including Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, and Procurement to ensure successful product launches, regulatory compliance, and continuous product improvement. Key Responsibilities Develop and formulate new wet pet food products. Improve and optimize existing formulations and manufacturing processes. Lead products through formulation, pilot trials, scale-up, and commercial production. Evaluate and qualify raw materials and ingredients. Ensure compliance with AAFCO regulations and label requirements. Support product testing, feeding studies, and product performance evaluations. Collaborate with cross-functional teams on technology transfer and commercialization. Investigate product quality issues and support root cause analysis and corrective actions. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Pet Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field with 3+ years of relevant R&D experience, or a Master's/PhD with relevant industry experience. Experience in pet food R&D is strongly preferred. Knowledge of raw materials such as meats, proteins, gums, and other functional ingredients. Understanding of pet nutrition and AAFCO regulations. Experience managing products from formulation through pilot production and full-scale manufacturing. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. #J-18808-Ljbffr