Food Scientist

Job Title: Food Product Evaluator II

Location: 6511 Golden Gate Drive, Dublin, CA 94568

Company: Albertsons

Position Purpose

The Food Product Evaluator II provides technical support for all food product development activities. This role has a strong emphasis on documentation, record keeping, reporting, sample storage, and product demonstration preparation. The position enables Product Development Managers and cross-functional teams to focus on broader strategic initiatives by ensuring accurate execution, testing, and reporting of product development activities.

This is an individual contributor role and does not have direct management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

New Product Development Support

• Assist Product Development Managers in managing documentation and coordinating new food product demonstrations across multiple categories.
• Receive, log, label, and properly store food product sample submissions.
• Maintain and manage an organized inventory tracking system for all product samples.
• Prepare samples for evaluations, cuttings, and cross-functional reviews.
• Set up and clean up product evaluations and demonstrations as assigned.
• Participate in product cuttings and evaluate organoleptic (sensory) qualities including taste, texture, aroma, and appearance.
• Create and distribute detailed demonstration and evaluation reports to cross-functional teams.

Product Testing & Analysis

• Execute category-appropriate product testing (e.g., pH, viscosity, texture analysis, refractometry, simple titrations, and other analytical methods).
• Operate laboratory and analytical equipment accurately and safely.
• Ensure proper documentation of all testing procedures and results.

Finished Product Specifications

• Create, update, review, and manage finished product specification files within the company’s internal specification database system.
• Develop and verify NLEA panels and ingredient statements in collaboration with supervisors, suppliers, and cross-functional partners.
• Route specifications for internal review and approval.
• Maintain accurate, compliant, and up-to-date product documentation.

Additional Duties

• Support food safety and quality initiatives.
• Assist with packaging evaluations to assess adequacy and performance.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline preferred.

Experience

• 6–9 years of experience in a laboratory, food manufacturing, or production environment (in addition to required education).
• Manager is seeking candidates within this experience range.
• Candidates must have unrestricted work authorization (limited work authorization will not be considered).

Knowledge & Skills

• Thorough knowledge of food manufacturing equipment and food preparation processes.
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and product formulation principles.
• Experience with sensory evaluation procedures and organoleptic assessments.
• Solid understanding of food safety principles and microbiology.
• Working knowledge of packaging technologies and packaging performance evaluation.
• Proficiency operating laboratory tools and analytical equipment (refractometer, pH meter, titration equipment, measuring devices, texture analyzers).
• Excellent time management skills with a strong sense of urgency and commitment to meeting deadlines.
• Highly organized with strong documentation and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Work Environment

• Laboratory and office-based environment within a corporate food product development setting.
• Requires handling, tasting, and evaluating a wide variety of food products.
• Involves physical activities such as lifting product samples, standing during evaluations, and setting up demonstration materials.