Food Technologist

Crown Bakeries•Smyrna, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Food Technologist, you will work closely with R&D leadership to support product development and bench sampling at a state-of-the-art innovation lab. Your role will involve assisting in developing recipes, conducting ingredient research, and optimizing production processes to achieve desired product quality and taste. You will also perform critical business support tasks and maintain cleanliness and FSQA standards within the plant and facilities.

Requirements

BS in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering strongly preferred, culinary degree with professional baking experience will be considered.
2+ years of relevant work or intern experience preferred.
Strong time management and superior organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment.
Passion for baking
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact effectively at all levels of the organization.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, specifically Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Solid proficiency in Mathematics
Detail-oriented to accurately review and document key procedures, label review, nutritional calculations, etc.

Responsibilities

Support R&D leadership with assigned bakery projects, product development initiatives, and bench-top sample requests.
Prepare, bake, and evaluate products to meet targeted specifications for color, moisture, texture, and overall quality.
Assist in recipe development, ingredient research, and process optimization to meet customer requirements related to flavor, nutrition, labeling claims, and performance.
Document all critical process parameters, including mixing procedures, lamination steps, proofing conditions, and baking profiles.
Collect, package, label, and properly store finished goods in compliance with GMP and food safety standards.
Capture, analyze, and maintain data from daily trials and finished products to support continuous improvement and troubleshooting.
Maintain detailed documentation of formulations, procedures, and results to build a robust technical knowledge base.
Perform and record analytical measurements including moisture, pH, shelf life, and product dimensions.
Maintain a chronological formula logbook for traceability and historical reference.
Assist in transferring formulations from bench-scale development to pilot and full production line trials.
Support the coordination and execution of plant trials, including preparation, execution, and post-trial evaluation.
Ensure all required raw materials are ordered, received, and available for bench and plant trials.
Maintain inventory control and par levels for core ingredients and active raw materials.
Work closely with ingredient suppliers to build strong partnerships and ensure consistent quality, availability, and performance of raw materials.
Maintain GMP, food safety, and FSQA standards across raw material storage, finished goods storage, and lab workspaces.
Support cleanliness, organization, and regulatory compliance of the R&D lab and associated plant areas.
Review and proof nutritional labels, ingredient statements, claims, and shelf-life documentation as required.
Manage outbound shipment of customer samples.
Collect acceptable sample products for customer evaluation.
Package sample requests as required (ice packs, dry ice).
Create outbound labels and coordinate shipment with vendors.
Provide technical support in manufacturing facilities, including writing SOPs for production staff.
Stay up to date with food safety regulations, industry standards, and labeling requirements.
Support finance in the development of product costing.
Research and monitor consumer trends and current wants/needs within the food industry for innovative ideas.
Manage cleanliness of R&D Test Kitchen and bench areas.
Regular cleaning, upkeep, and maintenance of scales, mixes, and machines as required.
Other duties as assigned by the Director, Research & Development.