Senior Food Scientist

About UsSuperior Products, at the Best Price, Delivered on Time and with a Smile. Every Time.If you want to understand what Capitol Food Company is all about, believe us when we tell you that the headline above isn't just some “sounds great” sales line. For us, it’s real.Around here, customers really do come first. Giving them the best products, pricing, and lead times — delivered with kindness — is how we keep the lost art of customer service alive. We may have gotten a bit bigger over the past century and a quarter, but our small-town service has stayed the same.The smooth operation of our clients, whether in the beverage, snack food, baking, or pet food industry, is our top priority. From the simplest wheat flours to the most complex custom blends and mixes, all Capitol Food Company ingredients have two things in common: superior quality and exceptional value.We source hundreds of ingredients painstakingly selected from all over the world from manufacturers committed to uncommon quality and sustainability. We are willing, able, and happy to accommodate our customers’ most precise specifications.Our headquarters are located in Cerritos, CA, and just down the road in La Mirada is our plant. We also have distribution centers in CA, OR, GA, SC, NC, and IL.About the RoleReports to: R&D ManagerWe are seeking a hands-on Senior Food Scientist with strong operational leadership skills and bakery expertise to support both the R&D laboratory and production.While this role will participate in product development projects, the primary focus is driving day-to-day technical execution, process oversight, problem-solving, and accountability across the lab and manufacturing environment.This position plays a critical role in supporting Production and R&D by ensuring products are tested accurately, data is properly documented, lab operations remain organized and compliant, and technical issues are resolved quickly and effectively.The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, responsive, and comfortable taking ownership of operational workflows while supporting lab personnel and cross-functional teams.As the Senior Food Scientist, you will help oversee lab activities and support two R&D Technicians through active involvement, coaching, prioritization, and follow-through — not simply delegating tasks.This role requires someone who can balance technical expertise with operational leadership, maintain urgency around deliverables, identify process improvement opportunities, and help troubleshoot issues related to product quality.The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is comfortable moving between lab work, production support, troubleshooting, documentation review, and cross-functional communication to ensure products consistently meet company and customer expectations.ResponsibilitiesExecute new product development and process improvement initiatives, primarily in the bakery category, that are assigned by the R&D ManagerMentor and oversee two R&D Technicians, providing direction, support, and trainingMaintain organization, cleanliness, inventory, and overall operational readiness of the R&D lab, including ingredients, supplies, equipment, and documentation systemsManage projects and individual tasks with minimal supervisionPartner closely with Production to troubleshoot processing issues, investigate out-of-specification products, and implement corrective actions to improve consistency and efficiencyInvestigate and support resolution of customer complaints by conducting technical evaluations, reviewing production data, and helping implement corrective and preventative actionsCoordinate plant trials for existing products or process revisions, ensuring smooth execution and scalabilityCollaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Production, Purchasing, and Sales to ensure successful commercializationMaintain thorough knowledge of industry trends, ingredients, processes, and regulatory requirementsProvide technical support to internal teamsMaintain urgency and responsiveness in addressing technical challenges, operational needs, and time-sensitive production issuesMaintain a strong food safety mindset, incorporating GMP, HACCP, Organic standards, and other compliance frameworksTest and evaluate ingredient and finished good expiration and, when possible, advise on shelf-life extensionUpdate batch records and host pre-production scheduling meetingsProvide clear direction on what ingredients are allowed as substitutes or replacementsRequired to approve and place product on holdRequired to provide instructions on how to rework product that has been placed on holdCandidate RequirementsB.S. in Food Science or a related scientific discipline5+ years of food industry experience with a focus on R&D and manufacturingMinimum 2 years of experience in bakery product development, including formulationPrior experience leading or mentoring team membersStrong project management, communication, and organizational skillsSolid technical understanding of product formulation, sensory evaluation, and processingWorking knowledge of regulatory and quality systems including HACCP and GMPProficiency in Microsoft Office; NutriCalc software experience preferredBilingual English/Spanish is a plusMust be able to taste products, including those containing allergensThis is a full-time, on-site position based in La Mirada, CA #J-18808-Ljbffr Capitol Distribution Company Llc