Sr. Savory Application Technologist I

Synergy Flavors•Wauconda, IL

15d•$69,160 - $103,741

About The Position

The Senior Savory Application Technologist I is a highly experienced professional responsible for leading the development and optimization of savory food products. This role requires advanced technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate will independently manage complex projects, mentor junior team members or technicians, and provide technical support across internal teams and customer engagements. Operating under indirect supervision, this role has a moderate direct impact on business decisions and functional activities.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or higher in Food Science or other applied science.
Minimum 7 years of application lab experience in savory product development or related field.
5+ years of application lab experience in 2 or more of the following areas: bakery, dairy and dairy analogs, plant-based applications, flavoring seasoning blends and proteins, dips, sauces, and dressings.
Advanced understanding of food preparation practices, mixing/blending techniques, and flavor systems.
Ability to reverse engineer formulations and interpret label/nutritional data.
Strong documentation skills; proficient in Excel, Word, and internal databases.
Ability to work accurately and efficiently across multiple complex projects.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong presentation skills
Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
Possesses strong organizational agility especially when leading cross-functional projects
Be able to develop and maintain strong peer relationships and collaborate effectively within a team environment.
Comfortable with ambiguity and capable of driving projects independently.
Positive attitude and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Domestic travel up to 30% to support customer visits, plant trials, presentations, and cross-functional collaboration.
Participate in and help execute trade shows demos, with moderate experience in representing technical capabilities and showcasing flavor solutions.

Nice To Haves

Experience with retort processing of savory products is preferred.
Experience supporting plant trials and commercialization processes preferred.

Responsibilities

Product Development & Innovation Independently develop and optimize savory product formulations using various flavor delivery systems.
Reverse engineer finished products based on label declarations and nutritional panels.
Demonstrate thorough understanding of batching, processing, and formulation techniques.
Create recipes featuring winning flavors, new technologies, and product design proposals to drive value for the savory flavor business.
Establish and execute testing protocols for shelf life and stability studies.
Technical Expertise & Support Provide advanced technical support to internal and external customers during demos, presentations, plant trials, and production runs.
Maintain organized and efficient laboratory equipment and environment.
Participate in routine taste panels and sensory evaluations.
Demonstrate broad flavor knowledge and understanding of savory systems and applications.
Possess moderate understanding of finished product labels, nutritional panels, and ingredient statements.
Stay current with new ingredients, flavor trends, and changes to industry standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Lead cross-functional teams for strategic internal projects and key accounts.
Collaborate frequently with Flavor Chemists, Account Managers, Marketing, Business Development, and other Application Technologists to deliver winning submissions.
May accompany account managers on sales calls or customer visits as technical support.
Understand the background and strategic context of incoming project requests.
Showcase flavors effectively to customers through innovative demos and presentations.
Project Management & Problem Solving Lead projects independently, including planning, analysis, and communication of results.
Solve complex technical challenges by gathering and synthesizing information from internal and external sources.
Track and analyze project outcomes to inform future development.
Mentorship & Influence Mentor and coach junior technologists, fostering technical growth and collaboration.
May direct Lab Technicians in batching finished products, screening flavors and conducting stability tests Receive guidance from senior coaches/mentors while contributing to team development.
Demonstrate a broad understanding of Synergy’s business and strategic goals.
Moderate direct influence on functional activities and contribute to business decisions through technical leadership.