Confections Formulation Scientist

Curaleaf • Lexington, KY

47d

About The Position

You're a product development scientist with experience in confections, gummies, or candy formulation. You understand how hydrocolloids, pectin/gelatin systems, sugars, and emulsions work together to create consistent flavor, texture, and stability - and you know how to translate bench-top trials into scalable production. You bring deep knowledge of ingredient functionality, emulsions, and hydrocolloids, paired with the technical skill to scale formulations from the lab bench to full production. Whether running shelf-life studies, managing formulation data, or collaborating with cross-functional partners, you approach each challenge with precision, organization, and a problem-solving mindset. Above all, you're excited to push boundaries in the growing cannabis edibles space while upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. As a Confections Formulation Scientist, you'll play a central role in developing and scaling innovative cannabis-infused products. You'll conduct formulation trials, lead product testing, and support commercialization to bring new concepts to market. Your work will span from sensory evaluations to regulatory compliance, ensuring each product is safe, consistent, and high-quality. On any given day, you might be: Supporting the development, optimization, and scaling of cannabis-infused edibles through bench trials, pilot runs, and full-scale production Conducting sensory testing, shelf-life studies, and technical evaluations of texture, flavor, and stability using industry tools like viscometers and texture analyzers Maintaining SOPs, batch records, and technical documentation to streamline operations and support audits Ensuring compliance with GMP, food safety, labeling, and cannabis regulations, including coordinating third-party lab testing and interpreting results Managing formulation and ingredient data using MRP systems and formulation software for efficiency and accuracy Sharing data-driven insights that influence innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration across the team

Requirements

• 5-8 years of experience in confectionery formulation and/or food manufacturing
• A bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Chemistry, or a related field
• Hands-on experience in confection formulation and scale-up, with knowledge of production equipment
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, food chemistry, emulsions, and hydrocolloids to design stable formulations
• Familiarity with GMPs, food safety, and regulatory requirements, with direct experience in sensory testing and shelf-life evaluations
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, paired with attention to detail and strong organizational abilities
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and formulation software
• Willingness to travel up to 10% for trials, production support, and industry events

Nice To Haves

• You have experience in the cannabis or hemp industry
• You're familiar with ERP/MRP systems for managing formulations and ingredient tracking
• You bring experience applying data science or analytics to product development
• You've supported R&D trials and helped scale products from concept to commercialization

Responsibilities

• Supporting the development, optimization, and scaling of cannabis-infused edibles through bench trials, pilot runs, and full-scale production
• Conducting sensory testing, shelf-life studies, and technical evaluations of texture, flavor, and stability using industry tools like viscometers and texture analyzers
• Maintaining SOPs, batch records, and technical documentation to streamline operations and support audits
• Ensuring compliance with GMP, food safety, labeling, and cannabis regulations, including coordinating third-party lab testing and interpreting results
• Managing formulation and ingredient data using MRP systems and formulation software for efficiency and accuracy
• Sharing data-driven insights that influence innovation, continuous improvement, and collaboration across the team

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Crop Production
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees