R&D Senior Scientist (Product Development)
About The Position
Liquid I.V. is seeking an innovative, hands-on formulator with beverage product development experience to join its R&D Product Development team as a Senior Scientist. Reporting to the R&D Director, Product Development, this role executes core expansion and continuous improvement projects and collaborates across all levels of the business. The successful candidate can independently design and execute experiments and communicate findings to technical and non-technical partners. The role supports formulation and optimization of products to meet nutritional, sensory, regulatory, and cost targets. It partners with Sensory and technical commercialization teams to evaluate prototypes, transfer formulas and specifications to manufacturing sites, develop technical specifications, conduct stability studies, troubleshoot technical issues, and make data-driven product and process recommendations. The Senior Scientist also leads commercial readiness, including ingredient and co-manufacturer onboarding, tech transfer, plant trial planning and execution, and documentation of trial outcomes. The role collaborates across functions and with external partners to deliver portfolio improvements, maintain project milestones, and communicate about product briefs, formula evaluations, and other deliverables. Travel may be required for industry events and conferences, formula development, pilot runs, and production runs. The position is hybrid in El Segundo, California, with in-office work 1–3 times per week and 10–20% travel. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Requirements
- 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in food or supplement consumer packaged goods.
- Deep technical expertise in areas such as beverages, powder mixes, nutritional supplements, flavor design and development, specification development, and formulation management.
- Strong working knowledge of food science, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, product development systems and processes, ingredient supply markets, scale-up, and product commercialization.
- Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, including designing experiments, collecting and interpreting data, drawing valid conclusions, and proposing solutions.
- Experience executing co-development agreements with external partners, including IP protection, negotiations, cost structures, and statements of work.
- Strong oral, written, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence as a technical leader.
- Strong working knowledge of R&D program management.
- Ability to adapt to change, work independently, and motivate others amid aggressive business objectives and shifting priorities.
- Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in food science or a related field.
- Start-up experience.
- A record of creating innovative, consumer-focused products for leading brands.
- Knowledge of and experience using sensory methodologies in product development.
Responsibilities
- Formulate and optimize products to meet nutritional, sensory, regulatory, and cost targets.
- Collaborate with the Sensory team to evaluate formula prototypes against existing benchmarks and ensure products meet superiority standards.
- Partner with technical commercialization to transfer and execute product formulations and specifications at manufacturing sites.
- Develop technical specifications for raw materials, bulk blends, and finished products with cross-functional partners.
- Plan and execute stability studies for new and existing formulations, analyze results, and recommend product or process updates.
- Apply food science knowledge to troubleshoot technical issues and recommend solutions.
- Design and execute experiments to evaluate formulation variables, optimize product performance, and inform product development decisions with data.
- Lead commercial readiness, including ingredient and co-manufacturer onboarding, tech transfer, plant trial planning and on-site execution, and documentation of objectives, results, risks, decisions, and next steps.
- Identify and execute continuous improvement initiatives across the core portfolio and broader product portfolio in collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners.
- Monitor critical project milestones and lead internal communication with cross-functional partners on product briefs, formula evaluations, and other deliverables.
- Travel as needed to represent the team at industry conferences and tradeshows and support formula development, pilot runs, or production runs.
Benefits
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, with PPO, HMO, and Kaiser options.
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- Short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Generous paid time off and sick leave programs.
- 10+ paid annual holidays and an annual Holiday Office Closure.
- Wellness Days, including a Vitality Day and two Recharge Days.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Monthly technology and wellness reimbursement.
- Liquid I.V. products.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
