Food Scientist

Tyson Foods•Springdale, AR

About The Position

The Food Scientist develops and commercializes new and improved products and processes, with guidance from a manager. The role spans all stages of product and process development, including creating product specifications and ensuring regulatory labeling and food safety requirements are met. The Food Scientist develops samples and prototypes, modifies and optimizes existing products, prepares production and labeling specifications, and compiles cost analysis information. The role applies scientific methods and knowledge of ingredients, product formulation, and food processing to support innovative product development. It also leads and executes cook validation studies across products, production lines, and fryer platforms to verify food safety, optimize cooking procedures, and support consistent restaurant quality. The position works across functions and with ingredient suppliers to support product development and smooth production start-up. The Food Scientist independently manages projects of moderate complexity from concept through commercialization, with manager guidance, including experiments, data analysis, and reporting. Development activities include bench-top work, pilot-plant testing, scale-up at a federally inspected research facility, and commercialization at full-scale production facilities. The role may supervise hourly technicians, travels to production facilities, and may take on special projects. The requisition considers candidates for Food Scientist I or Food Scientist II, with level determined through the interview process.

Requirements

Food Scientist II: degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field; alternative protein science or equivalent is also listed. Ph.D. with no experience; M.S. with at least 2 years of relevant experience; B.S. with at least 3 years of relevant experience; or no degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
Food Scientist I: degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Food Engineering, or a related field. Ph.D. or M.S. with no experience; B.S. with at least 2 years of relevant experience; or no degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience.
Good computer skills, including ability to use MS Office products and Tyson systems or similar systems.
Good verbal and written communication skills and presentation skills; ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional business partners.
Strong critical-thinking, analytical, problem-solving, project-management, and numerical skills.
Understanding of product formulation, food processing, the research and development process, regulatory labeling, and food safety requirements.
Must reside in the United States to be considered.
Must be willing and able to perform the physical requirements of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Applicants must upload a resume to their Workday application or ensure their Workday Career Profile is up to date and complete.
Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Travel of 25–50% is required.
Professional team members are expected to use approved AI tools responsibly and validate AI-supported outputs.

Nice To Haves

Strong working knowledge of poultry new-product development and optimization, including battered and breaded products.

Responsibilities

Develop and commercialize new and improved products and processes, from concept through commercialization.
Develop samples and prototypes; modify and optimize existing products.
Write product specifications and develop production and labeling specifications.
Ensure regulatory labeling and food safety requirements are met.
Lead and execute cook validation studies, including planning, conducting, documenting, and communicating results across products, production lines, and fryer platforms.
Plan and execute experiments, analyze data, and report results for projects of moderate complexity.
Conduct bench-top development, pilot-plant testing, scale-up production at a federally inspected research facility, and commercialization at full-scale production facilities.
Collaborate with marketing, insights, sales, culinary, FSQA, operations, purchasing, ingredient suppliers, and process development to support development and production start-up.
Analyze data to build product specifications that are process capable.
Present technical data and concepts to audiences with varying levels of technical understanding.
Compile cost analysis information and provide it to product management; ensure project costing meets financial expectations.
Contribute to cross-functional projects that support organizational growth and EBIT strategies.
Help identify innovation that may be treated as intellectual property and provide a competitive edge.
Travel to production facilities and other locations as needed for testing, commercialization, troubleshooting, customer meetings, and business needs.
Complete special projects as needed.
Develop a personal development plan with the manager and demonstrate initiative to grow within the organization.
Use approved AI tools responsibly, protect sensitive information, follow company policies, and validate AI-generated outputs; individual contributors are expected to integrate AI into daily work and apply professional judgment.