Applications Food Scientist

The Applications Food Scientist develops and applies technical expertise to support internal teams and external customers through bench-top formulation work, application development, and clear communication of results. This role focuses on learning and showcasing a broad portfolio of food ingredients, creating new formulations, and supporting sales and customer-facing activities while adhering to established standard operating procedures and food safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong technical expertise in the company’s products, standard demonstrations, and Applications Directory, and use this knowledge to support internal stakeholders and external customers while following all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and good manufacturing practices (GMPs).
• Complete assigned projects and tasks by established due dates and communicate clear, accurate, and concise results to relevant stakeholders.
• Perform daily bench-top duties, including formulation, testing, and evaluation of food and beverage applications.
• Document and record detailed project results, including products used, dates, number of trials, and outcomes, whether successful or serving as learning opportunities, and prepare a monthly synopsis of all projects.
• Assist with and actively participate in weekly tastings, documenting all sensory and technical findings in a clear and organized manner.
• Create accurate batch sheets for review, ensuring formulas, ingredient quantities, and procedures are clearly defined and reproducible.
• Maintain a proactive, clean, organized, and safe working environment in the laboratory and related work areas.
• Assist in introductory presentations, open houses, and training seminars for customers, brokers, and distributors, helping to demonstrate products and applications.
• Accompany Applications team members on domestic travel as needed to support customer visits, demonstrations, and training sessions.
• Work under the guidance of the Applications Manager to gain a deep understanding of product usage and application development in order to create new formulations that effectively showcase ingredients in support of sales divisions, customers, brokers, and distributors.
• Operate within FDA, FSMA, and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements, ensuring all work complies with defined food safety standards and risk levels for the plant and office environments.

• Degree in food science or a related field of study.
• Technical experience and a demonstrated track record of accomplishments in applications within the food industry.
• Strong knowledge of food science principles, including biology and microbiology, as applied to food systems.
• Hands-on experience with laboratory techniques such as titration and pH testing.
• Experience in quality control and quality assurance within a food or laboratory environment.
• Ability to perform inspection and evaluation of products and formulations for quality and consistency.
• Effective oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues, customers, brokers, and distributors.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to document work and results clearly, concisely, and accurately.
• Problem-solving skills with the ability to proactively identify issues and develop effective solutions to work-related problems.
• High level of accountability, with the ability to accept responsibility for actions and outcomes.
• Commitment to customer satisfaction and teamwork within a collaborative environment, aligning with company policies and values.
• Ability to follow SOPs, GMPs, and food safety regulations, including FDA, FSMA, and GFSI requirements.

• Experience working in an applications-focused role in the food industry, supporting sales or customer-facing initiatives.
• Comfort participating in and documenting sensory evaluations, such as weekly tastings.
• Experience creating and reviewing batch sheets and formulation documentation.
• Ability to assist with presentations, open houses, and training seminars for external partners.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically with Applications team members as needed.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for managing multiple projects and maintaining accurate records.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under guidance from a manager while developing independent technical expertise.
• Interest in contributing to a growing organization with expanding product lines and evolving laboratory capabilities.

This role operates on a first-shift schedule, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Applications Food Scientist works primarily in a laboratory and office setting under the guidance of the Applications Manager, focusing on understanding products, their usage, and application development. The environment is governed by FDA, FSMA, and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, with clearly defined risk levels by area to ensure safe production of food in both plant and office spaces. The position involves regular bench-top laboratory work, participation in tastings, preparation of batch sheets, and collaboration with cross-functional teams. Occasional domestic travel may be required to support customer visits, demonstrations, and training events. The organization is growing, promotes from within, and plans to expand laboratory facilities in the future, offering opportunities to contribute to and benefit from this growth.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Racine, WI.

The pay range for this position is $33.65 - $48.08/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Racine,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $34 - $48