Protein Chemist, Food Science

Just Food Company • Emeryville, CA

14d • $135,000 - $158,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Just Food Company is seeking a hands-on Food/Process Chemist to advance the science behind its food and protein platforms. The role combines food chemistry and process science expertise with experimental judgment and practical problem-solving. The successful candidate will investigate protein structure, extraction, functionality, stability, and performance, and translate findings into improved ingredients, products, and processes. This position requires working through ambiguous technical challenges, developing hypotheses, deciding what to test next, and turning complex data into clear recommendations.

Requirements

• PhD in Food Science, Protein Chemistry, Chemistry, or a closely related field with at least 2 years of relevant industry experience; or a master's degree with 5 or more years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with protein extraction, purification, characterization, functionality, and/or process optimization, ideally in food or food-adjacent applications.
• Strong understanding of protein structure-function relationships and how processing conditions influence protein behavior and performance.
• Direct experience with multiple protein characterization techniques, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fluorescence spectroscopy, rheology, SDS-PAGE, or related analytical methods.
• Experience designing and executing multivariable experiments using DOE, factorial designs, or other systematic optimization approaches.
• Working knowledge of sequence- and structure-based bioinformatics tools such as BLAST, structure alignment tools, or ProtParam-type sequence analysis.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to synthesize complex experimental data into clear conclusions and recommendations.
• Excellent experimental discipline, documentation, and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• High degree of independence and self-direction, including the ability to determine the next question or experiment rather than relying on a predefined protocol.
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working specifically with plant, alternative, or novel proteins.
• Experience translating laboratory findings into food applications or scalable manufacturing processes.
• Experience working across fundamental protein science and applied food/product development.
• Experience with food starch chemistry and/or purification.
• Hands-on experience with cell cultivation, fermentation, or fermentation-derived proteins.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize novel extraction and processing approaches while balancing protein functionality, extraction yield, food-grade requirements, scalability, and downstream processing constraints.
• Develop and apply analytical methods to understand protein structure-function relationships and identify drivers of functional performance.
• Use protein chemistry, food science, and computational approaches to troubleshoot technical challenges and improve protein functionality and stability.
• Evaluate protein performance through processing, formulation, storage, and shelf life, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for product and process development.
• Independently interpret complex or ambiguous results, develop hypotheses, and determine the most valuable next experiments.
• Partner with Product Development, Process/Manufacturing, Quality, and other technical teams to translate laboratory findings into practical, scalable solutions.
• Maintain rigorous experimental documentation and communicate findings, conclusions, and recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

• Equity
• Up to 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage (up to 90% for dependents)
• Flexible time off
• 9 holidays plus company closure between Christmas and New Year's

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree