Principal Food Scientist
About The Position
At CJ Schwan’s, the Principal Food Scientist applies food science expertise to develop, improve, and optimize products, ingredients, processes, packaging, and preservation methods while maintaining quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role provides technical leadership and solutions for ingredient, formulation, processing, and production challenges, supporting efficient manufacturing operations and product innovation. The scientist develops and validates formulations, processing methods, and specifications; plans and executes pilot and plant trials; analyzes results; and establishes scalable production processes. The role leads cross-functional teams through product launches and changes to ingredients, formulas, processes, or specifications. It also evaluates ingredients, suppliers, and processing technologies to improve product performance, optimize costs, and support continuous improvement. Responsibilities include maintaining technical documentation and project updates, communicating progress, risks, and outcomes, and advancing new product concepts through research, experimentation, and collaboration.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Cereal Science, Dairy Science, Nutrition, Biological Sciences, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and product development experience.
- 8+ years of food product development experience, with expertise in food ingredients, chemistry, processing, and functionality.
- Strong knowledge of frozen food product development, including trends, regulatory requirements, formulation, scale-up, manufacturing, bench-top testing, and plant trials.
- Ability to analyze data, solve complex technical problems, and implement practical solutions.
- Willingness and ability to taste and evaluate food products throughout the development process.
- Curiosity, an innovation mindset, and a passion for solving complex technical challenges while collaborating effectively across functions.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with SAP PLM and Microsoft applications.
Responsibilities
- Apply food science expertise to develop, improve, and optimize products, ingredients, processes, packaging, and preservation methods while ensuring quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
- Provide technical leadership and solutions for ingredient, formulation, processing, and production challenges to support efficient manufacturing operations.
- Develop and validate new product formulations, processing methods, and specifications for innovation, renovation, and commercialization initiatives.
- Plan and execute pilot and plant trials, analyze results, and establish scalable processes and production specifications.
- Lead cross-functional teams in implementing product launches and ingredient, formula, process, or specification changes.
- Evaluate ingredients, suppliers, and processing technologies to improve product performance, optimize costs, and drive continuous improvement.
- Create and maintain technical documentation, specifications, and project updates, communicating progress, risks, and outcomes.
- Generate and advance new product concepts through research, experimentation, and collaboration to support innovation and business growth.
Benefits
- Competitive Total Rewards package
- Comprehensive health benefits
- Time off programs
- Retirement and financial offerings
- Eligibility for a 15% annual incentive bonus based on organizational performance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
