Sr. Food Technologist, R&D

Aspire Bakeries Careers • Santa Ana, CA

2d • $83,000 - $110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Sr. Food Technologist to join our team at our Santa Ana, CA Bakery. As a Sr. Food Technologist, you will be accountable for leading product development and ensuring successful commercialization from concept through full-scale manufacturing, delivering consistent, high-quality products that meet customer expectations. This role requires you to be onsite in Santa Ana four days per week, giving you hands-on collaboration with the team and daily exposure to the pulse of the business.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in industrial food development
• Strong English communication skills (verbal and written)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Working knowledge of SAP systems
• Solid mathematical skills, including fractions and decimals
• Ability to meet physical requirements, including standing for extended periods and lifting up to 50 pounds

Nice To Haves

• Additional culinary education or training
• Experience in culinary or product development environments
• Fluency in Spanish
• Experience working on line trials or customer-facing innovation sessions
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a strong passion for food and innovation
• Ability to read and understand a basic formula
• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gather and analyses information skillfully, develops alternative solutions
• Responsible for helping ensure a seamless transition and sustainable quality of product from bench top to manufacturing (through line trials) to customer
• Demonstrates expertise or willingness to learn in R&D equipment use and settings
• Communicate with project managers to accurately maintain data generated in preparation and completion of requested samples
• Demonstrates growth mindset in willingness to continue education with workshops, trainings, specific subject classes, etc.
• Adherence to NPD/BRC guidelines/GMPs
• Ability to travel to line trials or customer driven ideation sessions
• Regularly required to climb, stand or walk for extended periods of time
• Use a computer keyboard and monitor more than 25% of total work time
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance
• Additional voluntary life insurance options
• Paid parental leave
• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Competitive 401(k) with immediate company match
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• HSA and FSA plans
• Performance incentive plans

What This Job Offers

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