R&D Application Scientist - Food & Bev

Our client is a well-established bakery manufacturer that is seeking an innovative and detail-oriented R&D Application Scientist to join the R&D team. This role will focus on developing, optimizing, and applying flavor and color solutions across a wide range of products. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with creativity to deliver sensory experiences that meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Product Development & Application
• Design and execute application trials for flavors and colors in various food and beverage matrices (e.g., dairy, bakery, beverages, confectionery).
• Optimize formulations for taste, color stability, and overall sensory appeal.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, regulatory, operations) to ensure feasibility and scalability of solutions.
• Innovation & Research
• Stay ahead of industry trends in flavor and color technologies, natural ingredients, and clean-label solutions.
• Conduct research on ingredient interactions, stability, and performance under different processing conditions.
• Develop prototypes and present concepts to internal stakeholders and customers.
• Technical Support & Customer Engagement
• Provide technical expertise to customers during product development and troubleshooting.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, demonstrations, and training sessions on flavor and color applications.
• Regulatory & Quality Compliance
• Ensure all formulations comply with global food safety standards and labeling regulations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of formulations, processes, and test results.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• 3+ years in R&D or application development within food and beverage manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with flavor systems and colorants (natural and synthetic).
• Knowledge of natural colorants (plant-based, fruit/vegetable extracts) and clean-label flavor solutions.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (FDA, EU, Codex) for flavors and colors.
• Experience with analytical tools for color measurement and flavor profiling.
• Strong understanding of sensory science, ingredient functionality, and processing technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.