Process Authority, Research & Development Food Scientist

Furmano's•Northumberland, PA

28d•Onsite

About The Position

At Furmano Foods, you join a value-driven company with a legacy built on farm, faith, and family since 1921. We are dedicated to producing quality, shelf-stable foods while nurturing our employees, community, and the environment. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact while contributing to a culture of quality, service, and sustainability. The Process Authority / R&D Food Scientist joins Furmano Foods’ growth-oriented, manufacturing-centered organization. The person selected for this role is responsible for thermal processing safety, product development, and finished product quality testing. This position combines regulatory thermal process authority accountability with product development leadership. As a working leader, this individual will serve as a coach, a technical problem-solver, and a steward of Furmano’s culture. They will lead a team of lab support staff, driving improvements in efficiency, quality, and safety—all while modeling Furmano’s core values of safety, gratitude, honesty, kindness, diligence, unity, and stick-to-it-iveness. Leads product development projects from concept through commercialization Ensures plant thermal processing systems remain compliant with all regulatory requirements Develops and validates new formulations, reformulations, and cost improvement initiatives Supports shelf-stable product innovation within our canned and thermally processed portfolio Food safety is the responsibility of every employee and must be immediately escalated to supervision if concerns arise.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or related field
3–5 years of food R&D experience
Experience leading and supporting thermal processing operations
Even temperament and ethical conduct
Strong communication skills
Team-oriented mindset
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
Passion for food innovation and continuous improvement
Strong commitment to product safety and quality
Frequent standing and walking in lab/production environments
Occasional pushing/pulling of carts
Manual dexterity required
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; comfortable with interpreting data.
Technically competent
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; a team builder and a coach.
Ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
Computer literacy required (e.g., MS Office, ERP systems, Ignition, Adage, etc.).

Nice To Haves

5+ years as a Process Authority in an acidified and/or low-acid canning operation
Experience with canned sauces, beans, soups, chili, tomato products, etc.
Experience with Canning, UHT, and Aseptic Operations
Culinary experience

Responsibilities

Develop and implement thermal process systems
Assure plant batch and continuous retorts operate in regulatory compliance
Participate in development of thermal processes for new/improved products
Evaluate heat penetration data and process deviations
Prepare regulatory correspondence and reports
Support plant audits and regulatory inspections
Develop/test formulas for new products, quality improvements, and cost reductions
Execute plant trials and validations
Conduct shelf-life studies and sensory evaluations
Reformulate products for taste, nutrition, compliance, or cost
Troubleshoot production and quality issues
Maintain PLM specifications and nutrition software data
Review and approve labels and nutritional claims
Maintain accurate formulation and trial documentation
Lead finished product testing and grading laboratory and team members
Maintain laboratory inventory and ensure GMP compliance
Support production record review as needed
Collaborate with Quality, Culinary, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations
Provide quantitative insights to support continuous improvement initiatives