Senior Food Scientist

Mattson • Foster City, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Mattson is a food product development and innovation company that partners with consumer packaged goods, restaurant, and food and beverage ingredient clients. The Senior Food Scientist leads development of new products across multiple categories, from initial bench development through commercial launch. The role considers technical factors including food safety, stability, shelf life, scalability, cost, nutrition, and ingredient guidelines. It involves mastering benchtop processes, collaborating on scale-up and commercialization, applying culinary principles to technical development, and preparing technical documentation. The work spans complex product and process challenges, analytical testing, cross-functional collaboration, and multiple projects with overlapping deadlines. The position may also provide guidance, coaching, and training to other employees within its job function.

Mattson’s San Francisco Bay Area office includes a 20,000-square-foot food development lab, brand development studio, consumer research facility, and on-site pilot manufacturing plant. The company describes its work as fast-paced and hands-on, supporting clients in bringing new products to market.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Food Science or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of food and/or beverage product development experience with commercialization experience; new product development experience is ideal.
• Demonstrated leadership ability through organizing small teams or projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to travel domestically and occasionally internationally as required by client and project needs.
• High integrity, commitment, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to lift 30 to 40 lb.
• Passion for food and beverage.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, and the FlavorStudio program.
• Commitment to personal and professional growth and to the success of the company, clients, and fellow employees.
• Culinary degree.
• Food service or restaurant operations experience.
• Production experience.
• Quality Assurance experience.
• Consumer packaged goods (CPG) experience.
• Experience working in ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new products across multiple product categories and all phases of product development, from initial bench development through commercial launch.
• Consider technical issues including food safety, food stability, shelf life, scalability, cost, nutrition, and ingredient guidelines.
• Master benchtop processes and work proactively with Commercialization Managers to develop scale-up processes.
• Assist with commercialization trials as needed.
• Apply culinary principles to technical development.
• Write technical and project status reports, protocols, finished product specifications, plant trial protocol and summary documents, and shelf-life studies.
• Use experience and problem-solving skills to address complex technical challenges related to food product and process development, manufacturing, or improvement, and make technical recommendations.
• Understand and conduct basic analytical testing in support of product development.
• Work with cross-functional teams that include clients, client managers, food scientists, and contract manufacturers.
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects with overlapping deadlines.
• May provide guidance, coaching, and training to other employees within the job function.

Benefits

• 401(k).
• Health benefits.
• Dental benefits.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Participation in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), providing an opportunity for profit-sharing.
• Fresh breakfast and lunch served in the office Monday through Friday.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior