Analyst, FSQA Research & Development (R&D)

Chipotle • Newport, RI

5d • $77,000 - $110,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As the Analyst, FSQA Research & Development (R&D), you will play a key role in executing daily lab and test kitchen operations at the Chipotle Cultivate Center (CCC). You will be responsible for supporting the Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) R&D team by executing sensory and quality evaluations across Chipotle’s full product portfolio within the CCC. You will partner closely with Culinary, Commercialization, and suppliers to ensure products meet Chipotle’s quality and food safety standards across the restaurant network, while generating insights to inform product decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree from a 4-year college or university in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or Food Microbiology required.
• 2–4 years of experience in restaurant, QSR, food manufacturing, or food science environments, with exposure to FSQA, R&D, or product development processes
• ServSafe Manager Certification is preferred; certification may also be obtained upon hire.
• Sensory training completed or willingness and ability to be trained required.
• Strong understanding of food science principles, sensory analysis, and food preparation techniques.
• Exposure to root cause analysis and corrective action processes within food quality or production environments with the ability to contribute to recommending actionable solutions
• Experience supporting cross-functional initiatives, including coordination with R&D, operations, and supply chain partners.
• Ability to analyze data, apply critical thinking, and communicate clear, actionable findings to cross-functional partners.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple samples, projects, and deadlines simultaneously
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical findings into practical insights
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, Outlook, and other tools used for data entry and reporting.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities; consistently following through on tasks and meeting established timelines.

Nice To Haves

• Culinary training completed or willingness and ability to be trained preferred.
• Hands-on experience supporting product testing, sensory evaluation, shelf-life studies, or quality validation activities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and support physical and analytical product evaluations across proteins, legumes, tortillas, dairy, RTE/RTD products, non-food items, and equipment.
• Analyze and synthesize evaluation results, generating reports and recaps that include sensory, analytical, and microbiological findings, along with recommended next steps for cross-functional teams and suppliers.
• Maintain and update R&D project trackers and timelines to reflect ongoing menu evaluations and product changes.
• Perform cleaning validations and verifications for new restaurant equipment and smallwares.
• Partner with FSQA and R&D teams to develop evaluation protocols and sensory tools aligned to product type and testing objectives (e.g., shelf life, product matching).
• Collaborate with suppliers and laboratory partners to collect samples, review results, and ensure business and quality documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Support root cause analysis of food quality issues in partnership with suppliers, gathering technical data and contributing to corrective action planning.
• Provide technical input into restaurant training materials and participate in working sessions to uphold food safety and quality standards.
• Participate in cross-functional project meetings to share updates on product status and R&D progress.
• Support kitchen test operations, including receiving and organizing sample shipments and maintaining cleanliness and organization.

Benefits

• Chipotle offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k, sick leave, vacation time, and much more.
• Visit https://jobs.chipotle.com/benefits for more details.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees