R&D Scientist – Product Development

Job Title: R&D Scientist – Product Development (Food Industry)

Location: Glenview, IL (Onsite – Monday to Friday)

Duration: 12 Months (High potential for Full-Time Conversion)

Role Overview

We are seeking a hands-on R&D Scientist – Product Development to support innovation and renovation projects across our North America Away From Home (AFH) business. This is a lab-focused, technical role ideal for someone who enjoys working on product formulation, experimentation, and commercialization within the food industry.

You will play a key role in developing and improving products such as condiments, sauces, soups, and mac & cheese, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to bring concepts to life.

🔹 Key Responsibilities

• Conduct benchtop formulation, lab experiments, and analytical testing for new and existing products
• Develop and evaluate products for flavor, texture, color, nutrition, and shelf-life
• Support product development and commercialization, including prototype creation and factory trials
• Collaborate with Packaging, Quality, Operations, Marketing, and Sales to execute projects
• Perform feasibility assessments, costing, and ingredient evaluation
• Develop recipes, documentation, and labeling aligned with regulatory and quality standards
• Support scale-up activities and initial production runs
• Manage multiple projects with minimal supervision while meeting timelines and KPIs

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Meat Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• 3–4 years of hands-on product development experience (non-entry level)
• Strong benchtop formulation skills (critical for success in first 90 days)
• Experience with lab experiments, prototypes, and analytical testing
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently with structured guidance
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills
• High attention to detail and ability to work in a fast-paced environment